Roaring Up the Wrong Tree (14 page)

Delicate chairs that had to be antiques and cost more than what she made in a
year
made up a small sitting area.

And then the bathroom… Traditional—probably original to the 1800s house—tile along with granite countertops on the vanity and a gorgeous pedestal sink. But the centerpiece that called to her was the massive, claw-foot tub. She wanted to sink into the slipper tub and relax, let the fears she’d carried her entire life be washed away by the warm water.

Instead, she stood on the back balcony and stared across the lake at the home that held Keen’s past. Part of her felt like it held his future, too.

A future without her.

Keen’s voice rumbled, blunted by the space and walls between them, but she was still reassured by his presence. Then she cursed herself for feeling better because he was near.

She shouldn’t depend on him or crave his nearness. But she did.

Trista leaned over and placed her forearms on the banister, letting the solid wood take some of her weight. His words reached out to her, her tiny bit of animal allowing her to grasp more of his conversation.

“Helena? Yeah, I need… I’d appreciate… Thank you so much… Yeah, you too.” His words were short, but held a tone that said he and the speaker were more than simple friends.

Jealousy, hot and searing, burned through her body from head to toe. It scorched her from inside out as her hint of beast cackled an objection. She wasn’t sure why since they weren’t mates, not really. They were hardly more than acquaintances.

She swallowed her emotions, shoving them away with a deep, determined breath. Moments later, Keen appeared, his steps light and some of the tension he’d carried was gone. She followed his movement through their room, his heavy tread carrying him past the double doors and on to the bathroom. Shortly after, the noisy flush of the toilet was followed by his steps on the porch, announcing his appearance.

Trista knew he was there, but didn’t turn toward him or even acknowledge his presence. If she did, she’d become a jealous shrew and ask him about Helena. So, she continued her sightless stare at the wilderness around them.

The sound of his deep breath reached her and he held it a moment before he released the air. He approached with slow, steady steps. His heat drifted to her even though his body remained apart.

“Tris?”

Tris. Her mother called her Tris. And now she knew what’d happened to her mom. It was done. She was no longer missing, but dead.

Because of a wolf. She wanted to call the Southeast Keeper, to have Reid brought up on charges and hauled away to confinement for violating the law. She’d helped the bear Keeper so many times over the years and he’d helped her a little in return, but she could still ask for a favor.

Except it hadn’t been Reid, had it? No, Morgan did the deed.

Bastard.

His heat neared her and she knew his hands approached. Keen’s touch was timid at first, palm sliding across her back as he stepped up beside her. “I can’t get a handle on your emotions, so you need to talk to me.”

She didn’t, not really. Talking, sharing, and exploring… it’d all end in a fiery ball of broken dreams. So, she said nothing.

“Nothing to say?”

She didn’t respond.

“I scent attraction, fear, and unease.” He traced her spine and she fought not to shiver with the pleasure of his touch. “There’s jealousy, too. There’s no reason for it, Tris. Helena is…”

The name again. That name. More grief attacked her, new grief now that she knew the truth.

“Aw, don’t fall apart on me now,” he murmured and she didn’t have a choice. He tugged her into his embrace. He held her tight, snug against him, and she fought the urge to lean on him.

“Keen…” She didn’t know what she wanted to say. He’d destroyed her well-ordered, perfectly timed life in less than a day.

“I’m gonna hold you for a while and you’re gonna let me. Then we’ll get something to eat, and
then
we’re going to find a place to live. The bed-and-breakfast is nice, but we need a home.”

The feel of his lips on her temple was unmistakable, as was the feeling of rightness that settled over her as she finally relaxed against him.

Gathering her courage, she tilted her head back to stare into his eyes, to lock onto his gaze. “I don’t know how to do this.”

“What?” he whispered. Slowly he brought his hand up and tucked strands of her hair behind her ear.

Depend on you.
She kept the words in her head and figured, screw it, he’d have to learn about her broken bits at some point.

“Be with someone, depend on them.”

He squeezed her lightly. “You leaned on your mother.”

Tears burned her eyes and she swallowed past the growing lump in her throat. “We depended on each other. We helped each other, but we were still alone.”

His next words told her that he already knew her too well. “And now you’re not. Not ever again, Tris. You’re mine and I will
always
take care of what belongs to me. Always.”

Her father never claimed her as his and she suffered for it. Day after day, she and her mother battled for their measly lives because she was fair game. They might have made a better life for themselves outside of the tri-cities, but her father kept a tight rein on their travels. He didn’t want Trista, but he didn’t want her to leave either.

This bear who could battle the clan’s Itan and win had announced his claim and was more than able to put his strength behind his words.

For the first time in her life, she felt safe. And maybe, just maybe, she could lean on him a little.

“Okay.” She whispered the word, trying very, very hard to believe Keen.

Slowly, treating her as if she were a frightened deer, he lowered his head. She read his intent, his desire written clearly in his gaze, and couldn’t find it in herself to object. No, truly, she looked forward to the connection of a kiss.

His lips brushed hers, soft as butterfly wings, and he repeated the action, slightly more pressure than before. Gentle and soothing, the meeting of their mouths continued, growing more insistent. Her animal stirred, purring and reaching for more from Keen, and Trista’s human half responded to its urging.

She slowly ran her hands along his arms, traveling to his shoulders and finally crossed them around his neck. She pressed to her tiptoes, increasing their connection further. He hummed with the slight deepening and she traced his lower lip with her tongue on the next pass. That earned her a moan along with a slight tightening of his arms.

The kiss grew more heated, his tongue meeting hers in a seductive tangle. He delved into her mouth and she did the same to him. She sought out his tastes, his delicious flavors that teased her from the moment they’d met. His warmth sunk into her, her curves flush with the hard planes of his muscles. While they discovered each other, her body reacted to him.

Arousal thrummed through her and her inner-hyena chuffed in response to his nearness. Her nipples tightened and hardened to firm points within her bra while the very center of her warmed and grew damp with her desire.

Keen’s thick, hard length pressed against her hip, showing her that he was just as affected by their kiss. His reaction spurred her to continue, to keep tasting him. She swallowed his moans as he absorbed hers. The heavy pants of their breathy groans warred with the soft lap of water against the rocky shore below them. It provided nature’s song as they explored one another.

Gradually he lessened their kiss, pulling his lips from her while continuing to hold her captive. With a low whimper, she tried for one last press and his mouth met hers in a gentle reunion. He was so fierce, so deadly, and yet he treated her as if she were glass.

Then it was at an end, his mouth no longer meeting hers. She nuzzled his chest, her hyena urging her to rub against him, stake her claim with her touch and scent. She was surprised when Keen did the same and stilled for a moment as his cheek brushed the top of her head before moving on to stroke her face and neck. Seconds ticked past and she didn’t stop—nor did he—until she was satisfied he smelled like her.

Eventually they ceased, all attempts at defining their connection ceasing, and the sounds of the world surrounding them intruded. The warbling cries of the birds countered the gentle sway of the water to the shore and the wind whooshing through the trees. It was peaceful and soothing. The rush and race she’d lived with her entire life ceased to exist here. Here amongst her enemy’s territory, she found tranquility.

Funny how life worked.

“You ready to get something to eat?” he whispered, hardly making a ripple in the quiet.

Truly, she didn’t want to move, didn’t want to break the soothing spell that’d woven its way around them. Yet, she knew it was necessary. The moment she pressed her lips to his, their future had been decided. Their lives were entwined, tied together by words and sealed by a kiss.

She was ready to shrug off her past and get on with her new life. Not all of it—she’d never forgive or forget so many things—but she could put aside some of her fear for him.

Trista cleared her throat. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

* * *

Keen climbed from his truck and was quick to make his way to the passenger door. He caught it as Trista swung it open and immediately reached for her hand. “You need to lemme help you.”

That earned him a glare, but she placed her palm in his and allowed him to help her slide to the ground. She was tiny, short, and small. Just a little bit of nothing.

His
little bit of nothing.

Damn, it felt good to say that. It felt even better when he’d slanted his mouth over hers and tasted her for the first time. He couldn’t wait to do it again.

“I’m perfectly capable of getting out of your truck.”

Holding her hand captive, he used his grip to give her a sharp tug until she was pressed against him once again.

“Yeah, but then I wouldn’t be able to do this,” he murmured. Slow, as slow as before, he lowered his head and brushed his mouth across hers. The kiss was gentle, swift, and not nearly enough. But it flustered his little mate, making her cheeks flush red and her heart race. A vein in her neck pulsed and he wondered if her skin would be as sweet as her mouth.

Hopefully she’d let him find out someday. He didn’t have any illusions that it’d be today. There was so much to learn and so many walls to climb. He hoped it was soon.

Keen’s cock throbbed.

Yeah, soon, like 12:01 a.m. Then it’d officially be tomorrow. That sounded good to him
and
his bear.

Twining his fingers with hers, he gently pulled her toward the diner. It was the only one in their small town so it catered to humans and bears alike. The owners, Nellie and Edward, were sweet as could be and beyond nice to Lauren to this day. It was the perfect place to bring his mate and help her feel comfortable. It was also the central hub of any and all gossip in town. He’d be able to introduce Trista as his mate, get Nellie and Edward’s approval, and get something to eat all in one shot.

The moment they stepped through the door, the scents of grilling burgers and french fries cloaked them. The rumbling buzz of conversations flowed around them and Edward’s yell of “order up” lived above it all.

A waitress bustled by, racing to the window to snag the plates Edward had dropped onto the metal surface. Then she was racing away again, and Keen could see why Van was giving Lauren a hard time about working there. The moment the woman turned up pregnant, she’d resigned. Well, Van resigned on her behalf. That’d been one hell of a fight.

“Trista Ann, is that you?” Nellie’s voice reached them and he spied the woman at the end of the long counter. She tossed her rag to the smooth top and then she was hustling toward them. She nudged one customer and then another aside. “Oh, it
is
you.”

Nothing but happiness radiated from his mate as well as from Nellie. Then his mate was gone, encased in the woman’s massive hug. “I haven’t seen you in
forever
, sweet girl.” Nellie hadn’t even glanced at him. She simply commandeered his mate and dragged her through the diner, shooing the approaching waitress away as she settled Trista into a booth. “Now,” she sighed and smiled wide. “The regular?”

“Sure,” he drawled. “That’d be great, Nellie.”

The older woman froze and finally looked at him, shock plain on her features. The look transformed to a narrow-eyed glare. Hints of anger dominated her scent and her face flushed red. “She’s allowed to be here. I’ve been serving her and her mother for years. Sweet as can be and they never caused an ounce of trouble. Them laws of visitation say that—”

He loved Nellie for being so protective of his mate and any annoyance at her ignoring him was banished in that instant. He reached over and squeezed her hand.

“I know that. I’m not giving you a hard time about her.” He tilted his head toward Trista. “Trista’s my mate. I’m the last person you need to worry about.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “
Oh
.” Nellie sighed, shoulders relaxing as if she’d been carrying the world. “You’ll take care of her then? No one bothers her here, I don’t tolerate any of that, but…”

Yeah, he bet, and that thought sent his bear pacing and grumbling inside his mind. “But she’s mine now.” He let his gaze travel over the occupants of the diner, let it linger on the men and women—bears and wolves—and directed his next statement at them. “And she’s under my protection. Nothing, and no one, will bother her again.”

That earned him a glare or two, mostly from the females, but several of them bared their throats in acknowledgment as well. They may not know exactly
who
Trista was when it came to the problems with hyenas, but they now knew he wouldn’t allow
anyone
to harm her.

That earned him a big, wet kiss from Nellie, along with a reminder to change his relationship status on the WereWeb, the shifter social network he’d developed. Then the woman was gone, bustling her way between tables as she headed toward the kitchen. With a smile on his lips and a shake of his head, he slid into the booth opposite Trista.

Trista met his smile with a grin of her own.