“I’m not sure what you have in mind.” Ellie couldn’t believe a wolf like him was hitting on her. It was creepy, but sexy at the same time. Like playing with a sparkler near something that could explode. Was he teasing her to turn her down when she returned the flirting? “Well, there’s a little something you could help me with. Now, it would be greatly welcome. It’s something I’d only want you to deal with for me. On a very discreet basis, of course.” “What would that be?” “I’ve had my eye on you since the day you came to the office. I’d wanted to talk to you then, but you disappeared. Since, then, I’ve made it my business to find out about you.” “Jordan? What do you want from me?” Ellie turned around and looked him in the eyes. It was hard to do. She could see the predator in them. “Let’s start with a kiss and see where it goes from there.” He leaned forward. Not fast, but with a smooth grace, just like his buttery voice. His tone wa
Malcolm awoke in the night. It wasn’t a dream. Melody lay in his arms, asleep. What had awoken him was the faint crying from the baby monitor. David. His pup needed something. Gods, he didn’t want to awaken Melody, so he slipped from the bed, took the monitor, and went to see what his pup needed. His people had quietly unpacked the pup’s things as they’d eaten dinner. With a note on how to warm up a bottle, Malcolm started that. With the bottle in a special warmer, he went into the nursery and picked up his pup for the second time in their lives. David fussed a bit, but stopped crying. “Let me guess. That’s a soggy diaper your have there and an empty tummy. Well, we’ll fix both up together and let your mother sleep for a change. When was the last time she got a full night’s sleep, huh? Let your old dad help you out there, young man.” Gods, he suddenly sounded like his father. He could remember his father and the two personalities he’d had. As an alp
Ellie was in a state. She’d made her excuses to Jordan and was now hiding in the bathroom. She wanted so many conflicting things. Fears so many others, and she didn’t feel like Jordan was giving her time to sort it all out. Ellie wasn’t even sure if she liked or hated Jordan. He seemed like such a jerk, yet she couldn’t deny he was a jerk she could easily spend some time in the sack with. Gods, his buttery voice lulled her senses. His hair was something she could just stroke for hours. She wasn’t even going to talk about his kiss. That would have her dropping her panties, climbing on board, and riding him into the sunset. She desperately wanted to know what was happening with Melody and David. Was he hurting her? Or was she being treated like a princess? David wasn’t used to being along even when he slept. Did his diaper need changing? Ellie felt like her mind was going to explode. Back to her problem at hand. The wolf at the door wanted in to claim
“Why are you doing this? I don’t understand what you want. One minute you’re telling me you’re going to be punishing me and then you’re making love to me. Now, just when I get my life straightened out, you walk into it and start changing it. Why? Just tell me why.” Melody stood under the bright white lights of the kitchen. With its marble countertops and stainless steel appliances. Everything gleamed just a little too much. “I guess I am going to have to take you in hand. My pup is not the only one I am claiming. I am claiming you. If you think I will let you wear yourself out, then you have another thing coming.” Melody was exhausted and normally she would readily admit that, but right now, she was scared and confused by Malcolm’s words and actions. “You haven’t answered my questions.” Malcolm hated how she looked at him with a mixture of distrust and fear. If someone told him yesterday, he’d hurt this badly just because she looked at him that way.
He’d exhausted her. She’d fallen asleep after he exhibited of masculine endurance. Ellie found herself pleasantly sore in the usual places. But that didn’t stop her from checking in the mirror for bites. She was half afraid he’d distracted her enough that she might have missed him biting her. Ellie sighed with relief. “All you needed to do was ask if I’d bitten you, babe. But stand like that, naked, much longer. We’ll be right back in my bed, and I promise I will bite you.” There it was again, that wolffish smile of his. It had her weak in the knees. “I don’t have time to be your bouncy castle. I have to figure out what stock we have. Figure out where I am again with the orders that must ship. Never mind stock for the shop.” “You forgot something. We’re sitting down with Malcolm this morning to discuss how the pack will improve your business model.” “About that. Why would any wolf shifters help with our business? A fox shifter business. You’re not ma
Malcolm wouldn’t let up and, as tired as Melody was, she didn’t have it in her for a prolonged argument. He wanted things his way and he would get it by wearing her down and he didn’t have very far to wear her down. There she was lying in bed determined not to sleep and then she was waking up to light coming in from an enormous window and Malcolm coming into the bedroom with David chattering away in his arms. “Hey, are you ready to say morning to mommy? I bet you are, and I think she’s finally rested enough that we can have a sane conversation once you’ve had breakfast and are ready for your day. Morning sunshine, it appears we have a busy day ahead of us. If we don’t hurry, we may miss out on breakfast with the pack.” Melody sat up and took David from Malcolm. He seemed far too alert and happy suddenly. What happened to the wolf on the warpath from last night? “What alternate universe it this? Why would I be eating breakfast with your pack? Malcolm
Melody insisted on taking David with them instead of leaving him with some. He was hers and no one else would look after or raise him but her. So there she was in the dining room full of wolves eating breakfast. She thought she’d be far more out of place. That wasn’t the case. These weren’t just the important wolves of the pack gathering to eat. She was fairly certain that almost every wolf came to this meal. The formal dining room was far more simply set than she expected as well. There didn’t appear to be a dress code either by the looks of an old wolf walking by in cartoon patterned pyjamas pants and a t-shirt in one notable instance. His table mate appeared to be ready for an office job even as she cut up food for a small pup beside her. Later, they appeared to play past the pup as she left the table, not to return again. Malcolm insisted she stay seated, and he’d bring her food. That was the last thing she expected. They were eating when finally Ellie
Melody and Ellie didn’t have time to talk to each other for quite a while because Malcolm and Jordan were so focused on what they planned to do. Ellie and Melody didn’t find out what the other’s opinion about all of this was until far later. Right now, Malcolm and Jordan were introducing them to person after person. Their names, positions, and attitudes were a whirl for Melody. She ended up asking for something to take notes with. She expected paper and a pen. What Malcolm handed her was a tablet, and Malcolm told her to keep it. It was connected to the pack’s indoor systems, and she could access anything she wanted or needed. When she looked more closely, he’d given her his personal tablet. That made her wonder about the security and why wasn’t he concerned about her being a security risk? It was like an old-fashioned staff introduction to a grand house. As breakfast ran its course and fewer people entered looking for their morning meal. The purpose of the r