Shifters Forever The Boxed Set Books 1 - 6 (19 page)

T
eague couldn’t stay
. He couldn’t stand being this close to her and not touching her, not lying next to her. As soon as she went to sleep, he ran a fingertip over her cheek, tracing the delicate outline of her lips, her jaw line, and the curve of her brow. He touched his lips to hers, breathing in the air she exhaled as if he were drinking her up. Then he left her bedroom, pulling the door behind him until it was only open a crack.

After he’d retrieved the blueprints and took a survey of the B&B, he noted that there were tunnels that led out of several rooms in the old building. One led out of the basement, hidden behind a cupboard shelving unit. The latch would be released when the second shelf from the top was pushed, the resistance unhinging the door and letting it swing wide, leading to a dark tunnel.

Another entrance started in the utility room. Behind the closet door was a panel that slid across, revealing another tunnel, this one leading downward, and again, into darkness.

The third one was beneath the staircase that led to the second floor.

Unfortunately, the blueprints didn’t show where the tunnels let out. Teague was tempted to follow them, to yield to his curiosity. If he did, he could burn a half day that he should spend working. That was a half day that he’d have to extend his stay. He also didn’t feel comfortable exploring someone else’s property without their permission.

After one more glance into Kelsey’s room to ascertain that she was still asleep, he went to his own room at the other end of the B&B and lay in his bed, sleepless. His bear was restless, eager to roam the forest and release its frustration, but Teague wouldn’t succumb to its restlessness. He wanted to be here if Kelsey needed him.

***

K
elsey rubbed
her eyes and rolled over. Teague had left sometime during the night. He’d taken care of her, set her up with whatever she needed, then sat in the chair by the bed, turning it so it faced the window that looked out on the forest. He hadn’t looked at her again. She’d dreamed that he’d kissed her lightly, but she knew that was only a dream. There was no way Teague would kiss her, not after what they’d been through the last two years. He hadn’t said another word, just stared out the window, looking at the forest as if he was expecting something or someone to come out of the dense, tree-covered area.

Kelsey fell asleep and when she woke up a few hours later, he wasn’t in her room. Something that sounded like a roar in the distance had awakened her, but she wasn’t sure if she’d heard it or dreamt it.

She wanted to talk to him, wanted to hear his voice, but she knew that the only thing he’d want to talk about was what had happened between them. That was the only thing she wasn’t willing to talk about. She guessed it was a good thing he wasn’t in the room, then.

She fell back asleep and woke up to the sound of songbirds and the bright morning sunlight coming through the window. She wished the morning’s cheeriness could rub off on her. Swiveling out of the bed, she put some weight on her foot. That was bearable. She limped to the bathroom, washed her face, and dressed.

There was no sign of Teague. His truck was gone. He was gone.

A
heartbreaking
, lonely, and confusing week later, Kelsey took a sip of her coffee. It should have been perfect. The whole day should have been perfect. She looked out the window at the brightness of the sunshine, the majesty of the mountains in the background.

She sighed.

She couldn’t get her mind off of Teague, off the fact that he’d stayed away, avoiding her for so many days.

After that kiss, Teague had been scarce. Working. Staying out of her way. Two days went by that way: no Teague. Only a truck and the sounds of hammering. She could have sought him out; it wasn’t like he wasn’t in the same building as she was. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t be the one who did that, because of her stupid, messed-up pride.

Instead, she moped, wondering if he’d decided that caring for her had been a mistake. It bothered Kelsey that he stayed gone. By the third day, she’d made up her mind that she couldn’t spend any more time pining for him. She’d done that for two years, and look where it had gotten her.

She had a job now, a purpose. She had to pick up the pieces.

Dialing on her cell phone, she made arrangements to visit several shops in the city. It was time to decorate the B&B. She had a deadline, with the wedding less than month away. She’d make herself busy hunting down the perfect designer, accessories, and kitchen supplies for the B&B’s kitchen. They’d have to have a cook. First, though, the business needed to flourish. Until then, Kelsey would manage the cooking.

She spent the rest of the week in the city, shopping for the B&B, procuring the furniture and accessories she’d need to make it ready for guests and a wedding. She ate dinner out every day, and came home late every evening. Each of those evenings, when she pulled in, Teague’s truck was gone. She wondered if he’d met someone and was spending his nights away. She hadn’t heard him come in since they’d shared that kiss. But every morning he was there, his truck parked outside, the sounds of industriousness coming from the other side of the B&B.

Friday evening, she was driving home. The roads were a series of curves that would have been treacherous in icy and snowy conditions, but were perfectly fun to traverse on the clear day.

Her phone rang. Ignore it? She was tempted. Instead, she looked at the screen. Mae. She answered it.

Mae jumped right to the point. “Let’s meet tomorrow for lunch and a progress report. Sound good?”

Kelsey tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Progress report? That would probably include Teague. There was no way to avoid it, though, and she had to be professional.
Just fake it until his work is done.
Then she could go back to living—correction, then she could go back to faking that she was living, because without Teague in her life, all she did was sustain herself, day to day.

“Sure. I’ll bring some notes.”
Too bad this couldn’t have been handled by phone.

“Great,” Mae said. “I’ll have Teague update us on his progress too. I know Chelsea’s getting antsy.”

“She doesn’t need to be. It’ll all be ready, I’m sure of it.”

“You know how new brides can be.” Mae’s smile could be heard through the phone.

K
elsey pulled
into the driveway and winced when she saw Teague’s truck there. She glanced at her watch. 9 o’clock. He was usually gone by this time in the evening. Was he working late? Trying to wrap things up so he could get out of town more quickly?

She turned the car off, got out and opened the front door. Silence greeted her. Usually Teague’s presence was announced by hammering or sawing or drilling. She stood still, listening.

Nothing.

Could he have been picked up? Was he out with Grant? Maybe that was what had happened. She didn’t want to entertain the idea that he’d gone out with a woman. A grimace crossed her face. No, she didn’t want to entertain that idea at all.

She noticed a light on upstairs. She hadn’t been up there yet, since he’d started; she’d been giving him space, avoiding him, really. But now she was curious about what he’d done.

She took a step toward the staircase. Then she shook her head. Noooo. Best not to do that. She swerved toward the kitchen, dropping her purse on the chair in the hallway.

Another glance at the staircase.

Oh, what the hell.

She took the stairs slowly, tiptoeing, as if she would be caught. As if what she was doing was so very wrong.

Come on, I work here. What’s wrong with my going up there?

She reached the top of the staircase. Several lights were on. There: she could use that as an excuse for coming up here.

As if I need an excuse to visit the rooms in the inn that I’m supposed to be in charge of?

She scoffed at her own ridiculousness.

She surveyed the waiting room at the top of the stairs. He’d done a wonderful job. The room was impeccable; it was freshly painted, just waiting for the furniture to be returned to it.

She went to another room. It was in the same condition—astonishing. Amazing how talented he was. He’d always been good with his hands, but she’d never had any idea he was this good.
Guess I never got that involved in his work before.

Of course not; she was too busy working on her degree and enjoying life with her boyfriend. Why would she have gone to his construction jobs?

She reached the last door on the right. It was too late to turn around by the time she’d stepped into the doorway. She realized at that moment that this wasn’t one of the rooms he was redoing. This was the room he was staying in. Teague was sprawled out in the bed.

Kelsey gasped.

He was nude, a sheet covering one thigh and what looked like a massive erection. Every other part of his beautiful body was on display, a feast of manliness, muscles, and tanned skin that she couldn’t tear herself away from.

Kelsey should have backed away. She knew she should have, but something kept her pinned to that spot on the floor, staring at the length of his body, at the muscles that flexed as he stretched slightly, and then shifted. A chest she remembered well, dusted with fine hairs that used to tickle her face when she’d lie on him. Thick arms that used to hold her when she’d sit astride him and slide up and down his shaft.

Her eyes traveled back down to the length of hardness that made a very defined tent out of the sheet. She bit the tip of her finger, wishing that...

Dangerous thought.

She shook her head at herself.

Teague shifted again, groaned in his sleep, and moved toward his side. The sheet slithered lower, and lower, revealing his thickness, the mushroom head she’d caressed with her tongue, lips, fingertips, the thick shaft she’d taken in deep and milked.

A heat rose in her body, starting at her core, traveling to the outer edges of both her soul and her torso. She took a step back at the same time, her fingers itching to wrap themselves around his length.

Damn it.

She slid one hand into the waistband of her skirt, into her panties, past the tiny fluff she’d left behind when she’d ‘scaped her mound.

With the ease of one who is comfortable with self-satisfying, her fingertips found her clit, pressing down, creating an urgent need.

Fuck.

She couldn’t do this here. No. Not now. With one last wistful glance at Teague, as though committing him to memory, she spun around and took the stairs as quickly as she could while still remaining silent.

She had to get to privacy. The need for him, the desire to feel the way she used to feel when they were together, was too strong.

***

T
eague woke up
. No, that wasn’t what happened, exactly. His bear woke him with a growl that escalated into a roar which made Teague want to cover his ears. But covering his ears wouldn’t do a damned thing to silence his bear, and he knew it. The sound was coming from deep within.

He sniffed, and the bear sniffed with him, though the bear already knew.

Kelsey. Her scent. Her sex scent. The bear rumbled, half in satisfaction, half in anticipation.

Why would he smell her sex up here? He looked around him. He’d fallen asleep, the lights still on. He didn’t hear any noises, but he felt her pulse, though it was faint, somewhere in the building.

He jumped up, threw a pair of shorts on and made his way down the stairs, quickly but silently, the whole time inhaling her scent, teasing his bear—hell, teasing himself too. Damn. That scent. That taste. He’d missed it.

He paused at the entrance to her part of the B&B. His nostrils flared. His dick twitched in his shorts, harder than it had been when he woke up. It was as if every part of him was connected to her sex. His bear, his cock, his body, his heart, his soul. Dammit, for fuck’s sake, why couldn’t he shake this woman from any part of him?

His bear grumbled an answer that didn’t provide any satisfaction. He knew she was his mate. But what he wanted meant nothing if she didn’t want it.

A groan grew in his chest. He pushed it back and stepped closer to her doorway, closer to her scent.

He shouldn’t impose on her. He shouldn’t cross into her area or past her boundaries, but he was helpless against the drive of his nature and his bear. He took a step forward with stealth, feeling uncomfortable but at the same time, feeling very right about what he was doing.

He glanced into her room, saw the large mirror, and in the reflection, he saw Kelsey, leaning against a wall, her mouth open in a pant, her face the picture of ecstasy, her hand in her skirt, moving at a rapid pace.

His pulse picked up speed, matching hers. His hand drifted down to his cock, hard and pressed against his denim shorts. He snapped the button open and slid the zipper down with a tiny hiss, not worried she’d hear him over the sound of her straining breaths and low moans.

Taking his length out, he ran his hand over the head, imagining her doing that, visualizing her hand on him, her mouth on him.

With a quick jerk, Kelsey arched her back, bent her legs, and let out a long, sensual moan with her climax. She collapsed against the wall, then slid down it, her body spent.

Teague stepped backward. All he needed was for her to see him stroking his cock while she pleasured herself. What the hell was he thinking? He stepped back a few more paces, then turned and headed out the front door, closing it slowly as he exited.

He ran for the cover of the woods, his erection creating a discomfort that was almost unbearable. Shifting as soon as he’d reached the trees, he began a run to exhaust the passion and lust he and his bear had for Kelsey.

K
elsey stripped off her clothing
. Her skirt was damp from her climax, and the smell of sex was strong in the air. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear she could smell Teague’s all-man scent.

Yeah, crazy thought. Of course she couldn’t.

That was nothing like being with Teague. Her memory wasn’t faulty at all. She remembered their sex in Technicolor. Damn.

She jumped in the shower before she could become horny for him all over again. She wondered if it wouldn’t be better for her if he were gone.

Nah. Not a chance.
It was as if she’d forgotten how to live in the days since they’d split up. Now everything was so much more vivid and alive—including her.

She scrubbed at her body, leaving her skin flushed and pink from the effort, then donned her bathrobe, towel-dried her curls, and headed to the kitchen. She hadn’t really had much to eat today, and her stomach’s growls had reminded her of that.

She walked into the kitchen, squealed, and wrapped the bathrobe around her body a little tighter.

Teague was sitting at the kitchen table, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes taking their time to travel up her body, from toes to wet hair. His face turned darker, his dark eyes blacker, the way they always did when he was aroused.

She felt heat rise to her cheeks, and not even the cool evening air coming from an open window could chill the flush away.

Except for seeing him while he slept, his hardness very evident, Kelsey hadn’t seen Teague since that night of their shared kiss. She had no idea what was on his mind; all she knew was that he’d avoided her as if she was carrying something contagious.

She tried to work up something to say, but she couldn’t. It didn’t help that she was embarrassed by what she’d done, masturbating to her memory of him—even if he didn’t know about it.

He stood. “I didn’t mean to disrupt your evening.”

Disrupt my evening?
God, he’d disrupted her life, her heartbeat, her everything. And he was worried about her evening? “It’s fine.” She ran shaky fingers through her hair. “I was going to get a quick bite. It’s been a long week.”

He licked his lower lip. He always did that when he was thinking of something that made him uncomfortable. She wondered if he remembered what that did to her. Probably not.

Teague shoved his hands into his pockets. “I won’t get in the way. I guess Mae called you?”

Kelsey nodded. “She wants to get together tomorrow to discuss the progress. She called you about that, too?”

“Yeah. I’m almost done. I’ll be out of your hair soon.” He said it as if he believed that she didn’t want him around.

Don’t I?
It wasn’t like she’d done anything to show him any different.
How can I? If I do, then I’ll be leading us back toward being together again.
Not that she believed he’d want her back, not after what she’d done to him... and she couldn’t blame him for that.

“Okay, then, see you tomorrow.” His long legs took him out of the room.

She watched his ass with regret as it went down the hallway, his broad shoulders held straight above it. The front door opened, then closed behind him. The sound of his truck pulling out broke her dam.

A flood of tears rushed to her eyes.

Fuck.

She pushed the tears back, refusing to give in to them, and picked up her cell phone, appetite gone.

“Astra? What are you doing tonight? Want some company?”

T
eague pressed the gas pedal
, took a turn way too dangerously.

Slow your ass down.

If he kept this speed up, Tanner would have to come up here for a different kind of cleanup. His brother’s corpse.

Why was it he couldn’t do a damned thing right when it came to Kelsey? What he wanted to do was have her back.

Claim her.

Bond with her.

Make her his.

Forever.

What was he doing instead? Fumbling like a prepubescent boy and leaving when things got too rough. What was he supposed to do, fight with her to get her to accept his love?

Fuck this.

He hadn’t paid attention to where he was going, but he pulled up in front of Grant’s house. Now, what the hell was he going to do here? He had no business bothering Grant with his woman problems. He made to turn around, except his way was blocked by another vehicle in Grant’s one-lane driveway. He recognized Mae’s car and realized he couldn’t really pull away and be rude, so he pulled the rest of the way down the lane, pulling up in front of Grant’s home, which was large enough to double as barracks for a squadron, but way too... What was the word for it? It wasn’t fancy or opulent, but there was no doubt the owner had plenty of money.

He got out of the vehicle and opened Mae’s door for her.

“I didn’t expect to see you tonight.” Mae nodded her thanks, the smile on her face genuine and happy.

“I was just driving around. Ended up here.”

The front door opened, and Chelsea came out. “Teague!” She rushed down the stairs toward them, her curvy body reminding him of the beautiful curves he’d left in the kitchen at the B&B not long ago. “I didn’t know you were coming. The more, the merrier.”

Grant followed her, taking the steps two at a time, catching up to Chelsea in no time and putting an arm around his beautiful mate. “Hey, Teague. We were going to watch a movie. Interested?”

Another car pulled up and parked. Doc exited the vehicle, a bottle of wine in his hands.

He looked from Mae to Teague, then his face became stoic.

Chelsea pulled Teague toward the front door. Mae took Teague’s other arm. “You’re joining us,” Mae announced.

“No. I can’t. I was just driving around. More or less traveling down memory lane.” This looked like a double date. If it was, he didn’t want to be a party to messing it up.

Plus, he wasn’t good company. He pulled away from the two women. He really wanted some alone time. At the most, he’d been willing to share a thought or two with Grant, but he wasn’t up for a social scene. “I need to get to bed early. Can I pass?”

Chelsea pouted. Grant wore a concerned look. Mae looked askance at him. The only one who didn’t seem unhappy at his leaving was Doc. It wasn’t so much that he seemed to be happy to see Teague leave; he just didn’t seem thrilled that Teague might stay.

Teague opened the door of his truck. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mae.” He saluted in a quick wave and got in. He would call Tanner, but he knew already what Tanner would say. Tanner was way more aggressive than Teague. He’d have said the hell with what Kelsey wanted,
just drag her ass to a cave or something and claim her.

Don’t tempt me.

K
elsey made
good time getting to Northpoint. She was relieved to find a porch light on. Astra and Kane had power. Electricity. She wondered if that made Kane happy, since he seemed to be the rugged, rustic type. She was pretty sure Astra was happy about it.

Astra opened the door and greeted her with a hug, took one look at Kelsey’s face, then wrapped her in another hug, squeezing tightly, seizing Kelsey’s hand. “What’s wrong?”

Kelsey braved a smile. “I didn’t say anything was wrong.”

“You didn’t have to.” Astra pulled back from her hug, but kept holding on to Kelsey’s hand.

Kane, dark and brooding, walked out from behind the wall that separated the kitchen from the bed. He smiled at Kelsey, his face lighting up and changing to a much less threatening countenance. If she hadn’t known Kane, Kelsey would have been scared of the large bear shifter.

“How about I give you some girl time?” His voice was deep and kind. “I have a few things I can take care of outside.”

As soon as he’d left and Astra had closed the door behind him, Kelsey whispered, “Is he going to go do that ‘roam the forest as a bear’ thing?”

Astra shook her head, a mysterious smile on her face. “Not likely. Kane’s not like most shifters. Remember, I told you he and his bear clash—a lot. It’s like Kane doesn’t want to let the bear win by shifting. He’s not at peace much. I think it’s getting better, though. What about Teague? Is that what he does?”

“It was when we were together. I don’t know what he does now.”

“What’s he done the last few days while you two have been working on the B&B together?”

Kelsey bit back a laugh at the irony of that question. “Avoiding me. That’s what he’s been doing the last few days.”

Astra’s look was quizzical. “Maybe I’m confused...”

“No, you’re not. He’s working there. I’m working there. He stays upstairs doing the renovating and I stay downstairs or in the city. I haven’t seen him all week.”
Except for watching him sleep naked
, her conscience reminded her. Yeah, not like she was going to share that with Astra.

“When are you going to move to the land that Kane found?” Kelsey changed to a safer topic before she could break down into the tears she knew wanted to come flooding out.

“We’re closing on the land next week. For now we’re here, at least until we can build the new place. At least we have electricity.” Her smile was whimsical. “Though those first few days without it were pretty interesting.” Astra frowned. “Now stop changing the subject. “Teague?”

“I’m torn up over him.” That came out unexpectedly.

“What happened? Why did you two break up to begin with? It’s clear you both have feelings, still.”

“I don’t want to say. It’s not fair to tell anyone else before I tell him. Teague should hear it first. He should be the first to know. I just can’t bring myself to tell him. Can I ask you a question?”

Astra raised a brow and waved Kelsey on.

“How did you know he was a shifter?”

“I just did. I just do. I recognize shifters. It’s sort of a gift, I guess. Maybe a curse. It’s private. I don’t discuss it with... outsiders.”

Kelsey hoped that meant Astra didn’t consider her to be an outsider.

“You’re not an outsider.” Astra gave her a hug, then continued, “Whatever it is you’re keeping a secret, you should tell Teague. If you really left him without an explanation, and he did nothing wrong...” She shrugged. “If things were as great as you say when you were together, it seems like telling him is the right thing.”

Kelsey glanced away. She didn’t want to tell Teague. The pain it would cause him would be too great. No one could possibly understand. How could she possibly tell him about the baby?

“Dinner and dessert?” Astra offered.

“Why not?” It wasn’t like Kelsey had anyone waiting for her at home.

No one at all.