CoyoteWhispers (19 page)

Steve detoured past the living room for a look at the deck.
The snow continued to fall, growing heavier with each flake. Drifts collected
on the north end and the wind picked up more snow and sent it flying in that
direction as he watched. It looked as though the storm had arrived. A strong
gust rattled the patio doors and it grew darker with every second.

He turned back to the room and searched for the remote so he
could switch on the TV. Reception would be a problem soon but for now he should
still be able to access the weather channel. What he saw didn’t please him and
he dropped the remote on the couch as he headed for the garage. He pulled out
his snow gear and the tool he’d need to lower the snow guards fitted to the
outside of each window. He stuck his head into the house and yelled for Gordie.

She came toward him at a run. Her feet were shoved into a
pair of his work socks and she slid on the polished floor. “What? What’s
wrong?”

“Don’t panic. I just wanted to let you know I’m heading
outside to lower the window shutters. The storm is picking up and I don’t want
to risk a flying branch smashing any of them.”

“Need help?”

“No, go on into the kitchen and put some coffee on. I’ll
only be a few minutes.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll shut this door so the cold
doesn’t blow through when I open the roller door.”

He closed the door and went to pull on his gear. With the
wrench in his hand, he headed out into the growing storm. There had been no need
to batten down the hatches before now so the shutters were still locked in
their boxes. The guards were similar to a garage door but for windows, and once
they were in place they’d keep out the cold as well as protect the glass.

It didn’t take long and with all the boxes unlocked, he
hurried back to the garage and the control pad that would lower all the
shutters. Steve stripped out of his snowsuit and hung it up to dry. He
double-checked the control panel before heading back inside the house.

Gordie had done more than make coffee. The scent of fried
bacon and eggs greeted him when he opened the door between the garage and
house. His mouth watered and he picked up the pace, his stomach rumbling with
hunger. She was in front of the stove. His shirt covered her almost to her
knees and the sweatpants had been rolled up so many times over her socked feet
that she had to stand with her legs apart.

She shouldn’t get him hot dressed like that. There was
nothing sexy about her clothes or the way they hung off her body but Steve’s
cock had other ideas. His erection pressed against his fly, the cold metal
zipper doing nothing to restrain its growth. With a moan he walked up behind
her and wrapped her in his arms. He nibbled on her neck, licked at the raw
marks still visible on her skin and listened to the little whimpers of pleasure
she made.

He hated knowing she’d been hurt. Hated being unable to take
the pain away. But having her go soft in his arms went a long way to soothing
his raw nerves. Steve rocked his hips, ground his throbbing cock against her
lower back. She was a full head shorter than him and in this position he’d have
to bend his knees to drive his length inside her. The idea made his blood
surge, his pelvis buck and his balls ache. He’d like to take her in the
kitchen, and every other room in the house, but first they needed to eat.

Steve groaned as he let her go and stepped back. He was
gratified to hear a moan of need slip from her mouth. “Hold that thought, we’ll
get back to it.” He patted her on the butt and headed for the coffee.

The spatula whacked him on the ass and he spilled coffee all
over the counter as he yelped and spun around to face her. She held the utensil
up, pointed at his chest.

“That was mean. You’re a tease.”

“A tease? I don’t think so.” He stepped toward her.

“Oh no you don’t.” She wagged the greasy spatula in his
face. “The only thing you’re getting now is breakfast.”

He thought he heard her mumble “two can play that game” but
he wasn’t sure and when she picked up the frying pan he chose not to question
her just in case she hit him on the head with it, eggs and all. “I’ll set the
table.”

Making a hasty retreat, Steve grabbed plates and cutlery and
took them to the table. He went back for coffee and found Gordie hefting a
large platter of bacon, toast and eggs. “Here. Give me that. You grab the
coffee.”

Steve took the tray and waited for her to pick up their
mugs. She led the way and his gaze dropped to her butt wiggling beneath the
baggy layer of clothes.

“Stop looking at my ass.”

Startled, he barely missed tripping over his own feet. “I
wasn’t—”

“Yeah, you were. I saw you.”

He brought his gaze up to meet hers. “You did?”

She grinned. “Yep. Now put the plate down and let’s eat. I’m
starving.”

Steve kept his hands off her while they ate. Although how he
did when she made eating breakfast more erotic than a striptease was beyond
him. He managed only the occasional touch as they cleaned up which was a
miracle considering she kept offering him a view of that perfect heart-shaped
butt each time she bent to put a dirty plate in the dishwasher. He wasn’t at
all sure he’d be as successful during the tour of the house. The idea of
christening every room with Doc zapped his blood as though he’d shoved his
finger in an electric socket.

* * * * *

Gordie listened to Steve, the pride clearly evident in his
voice when he talked about the specially designed aspects of his house. They’d
started with the upstairs area and she had to admit he’d planned the layout
well. The living areas were separate from the bedrooms with no common walls to
help cut down on noise transfer. She’d always known he was talented with timber
but as she admired the handmade furniture and built-in cupboards in each room,
she had to admit he was a genius.

She held the handrail on the stairs as they headed to the
lower level. The timber felt smooth as silk under her fingers. Each rung
beneath the rail was carved with intricate patterns that required closer
inspection. Gordie bent to study them more carefully. When the details started
to take shape before her eyes they surprised a delighted laugh out of her.

“What?” He stopped a few steps below her.

“They’re coyotes frolicking in the forest. But they’re so
tiny you have to get right up to them to see.” She glanced up at him. “I want
you to make something for the clinic.”

He smiled. “Sure. What did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. I don’t care.” She trailed her fingertips
over the tail of a coyote. “I just want something this beautiful there.”

Steve laughed and leaned over to brush her mouth with his.
To her disappointment, he pulled away before the kiss could lead anywhere.

“Come on, I want to know what you think about my plans for
down here. It’s a work in progress.” He held her hand and walked through the
open area. “This will have a pool table and the bar will be over there. I’m
waiting on a special piece of timber for the top of that half wall.”

Gordie could imagine the large space lined with comfy chairs
and couches while the pool table took up center stage. “You’ll need some plush seating
around the edges. And the barstool seats should match the couches.”

“Exactly.” He pulled her over to a doorway on the wall next
to the bar. “This will be a movie room. I’ve got one of those big screens in
mind for that far wall and rows of seats back here. I figure this room will get
a workout on days like today when the kids are snowed in and driving us nuts.”

“Kids?”

“Sure. Don’t you want any?”

“But I’m not—”

“Don’t say it. Forget about leaving, forget yesterday. Think
only of tomorrow and it’s wide open. You’re free to go after your heart’s
desire.” He cupped her face, his thumbs stroking her cheeks. “What does your
heart want, Gordie?”

Gordie’s nose tingled with the tears she refused to shed.
She could see a future with him. See their children running through the house,
playing in the forest out back. His gaze searched hers and she couldn’t hide
what was in her heart from that all-seeing gaze of his.

“You want it, I know you do. It’s yours for the taking,
Gordie. All you have to do is stay.”

“I can’t.” The first tear slipped from her lashes. “I
couldn’t handle the stares and whispers after Anthony died and I didn’t kill
him.”

He rubbed his thumb over the moisture on her face. “I know
it hurt before, but Gordie, you were grieving, you’d lost your husband, your
baby, everything hurt. It wasn’t the looks or the words that sent you running.
It was your broken heart.”

On some level she knew he was right, knew removing herself
from her home had been the only way to cope with the loss she’d suffered. She’d
distracted herself as best she could, immersed herself in her studies, had no
life other than classes and books and then her internship. It took years to
find the strength to come home but from the first day she arrived back in
Whispering Springs she knew it had been the right time to return. The mountains
were her home, had always been home and her coming back had never really been
in question. How much of that had to do with this man?

Gordie wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face
in his chest. She cried silently, her tears soaking the front of his shirt, the
salty taste coating her lips and tongue. He held her without speaking, let her
take the time she needed and right there she knew she’d never be able to leave
him and stay whole. No matter where she went or what she did he’d keep a piece
of her with him and neither of them would ever find true happiness.

The crying jag slowed and she continued to lean against him,
absorbing his warmth and strength. Gordie had no idea what would happen once
word got out about Marcus, didn’t want to speculate about the pack’s reaction.
Many were still loyal to the Connelly’s, and even with the events over the past
year, they had allies. Whether they’d cause trouble was anyone’s guess. She
just hoped that now that the last Connelly was gone, the pack could prosper.

She tilted her head back to look at Steve through
tear-drenched eyes. “I’m worried about those sympathetic to Marcus.”

He brushed the hair off her forehead. “I doubt any of them
will be a problem. Most are old men and caught in a time long gone. Without a
reminder they’ll soon forget.”

“God, I hope so.”

“Even if they don’t, Brogan isn’t about to let the pack
suffer and I’m certainly not going to let anyone hurt you if I can help it. I
can’t stop the talk but I can help you hold your head high and live here in
peace.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever find peace.”

“You will. I’ll make sure of it.” He bent down and brushed
her lips with his. “That’s a promise.”

Steve deepened the kiss. His tongue licked across her mouth
and pushed inside. He tasted of bacon and coffee, and Gordie moaned as his
tongue stroked over hers. She slipped her hands under the hem of his shirt and
palmed his warm flesh. They pressed closer, their bodies touching, but the
height difference proved awkward and restricted their contact. Frustrated, she
pulled her mouth from his.

“More. I need more,” she panted.

He picked her up, carried her out of the unfinished movie
room and across to the stairs. With ease, he made the journey up to the main floor.
His long strides ate up the distance to his bedroom quickly. In a second, he’d
tossed her on the mattress and followed her down. She tore at his clothes,
stretched his shirt to get him out of the barrier between her skin and his.
Steve did the same to hers. With frenzied actions they stripped each other and
were soon rolling naked on the bed.

Gordie ended up on top, straddling his thighs. Her fingers
curled around his cock and she pumped her hand up and down in slow, loose
strokes. His hips lifted, thrusting his rigid length into her grip.

“Harder.” Steve wrapped his hand around hers and squeezed.
“Tighter.”

Guided by him, she dragged her hand over his silky shaft.
Liquid beaded on the head and she leaned down to taste it. His scent filled her
nostrils, his salty flavor coated her tongue and the need to take all of him
gripped her. She opened her mouth, slipped her lips around the bulbous head and
sucked. Gordie took him to the back of her throat and swirled her tongue along
his shaft.

Steve groaned, the sound ended on a growl and his fingers
twisted in her hair. He held her still and plunged his cock between her lips in
short, sharp jabs. His hips jerked, his length pulsing against her tongue and
more of his musky flavor filled her mouth. Gordie breathed through her nose and
increased her suction. She gasped when he yanked her hair, pulled free of her
mouth and tugged her up his body.

“Ride me.”

She didn’t need convincing. Gordie wanted to feel his length
filling her core. Wanted his heat pounding into her until she saw stars. Steve
held her waist and she used her hand to guide his cock to her opening. The
crown rubbed over her clit, sending shards of fire into her pussy. Moisture
covered her folds and he slid between them with ease, entering her in one smooth
stroke.

Gordie tossed her head back and moaned. His flesh branded
hers, the heat scorching a trail as it blazed out to invade every nerve,
overpower ever sense. She surrendered, body and soul she gave herself up to the
sensations of being joined with him. He jerked under her, his hips bucking off
the bed to start the delicious friction that would drive them wild.

Time stood still as she rocked into him, slid her body over
his in sensuous glides. She rose up, dropped down, rolled her pelvis and ground
her clit against him. Each move delivered another blast of fire, turned her
core into a molten mass desperate for release. He pulled her down and latched
his mouth around her nipple. A jolt of electricity struck her, bowed her body
and drove his cock deeper. Gordie cried out, hung on the razor’s edge of orgasm
for what seemed like forever.