A Shift in the Water (34 page)

“Gone.”

“You got her to get rid of him?” Jen asked.

A headache started behind Cade’s eyes. He should have known Jen wouldn’t let this go. Everyone who knew about the wolf would need an answer. “Not exactly. He left when I showed up.”

Jen leaned forward and looked into Cade’s eyes. It wasn’t a challenging stare. No, it was more curiosity. “Huh.”

Cade clenched his fists at his sides. “What?”

“I’ve known Mara for more than a decade. I know when she’s lying to me. In fact, I know when everyone’s lying to me. Some people can sing, others can dance, I can spot a liar a mile away. You’re a werewolf.”

The wave of nausea that rolled through Cade made him clutch his stomach and stagger back against the house. He cast a quick glance towards the door.
Mara please come out here.

“Calm down. I’m not going to tell anyone. Least of all Lil or Adam. I probably should have let you off the hook earlier, but I had to make you squirm a bit. She’s important to me. So don’t you hurt her.”

“She’s my mate.”

“Huh,” Jen said again. She shrugged and shook her head a little. “Well, then I believe you. You’d die for her.”

“How’d you know? About the wolf.”

Jen flashed Cade a bright smile. “Now that, Cade, is a story that not even Mara knows. Stick around, treat her well, and maybe one day I’ll tell you.”

Mara cleaned up the coffee mugs, tossed the burnt eggs, and slid the dishes into the dishwasher. What was Jen doing out there with Cade? Unable to take it any longer, she threw open the front door and gaped. Cade sat on the stoop, leaning back on his hands.

“Where’s Jen?”

Cade tipped his head back to look at her. “She left.”

“And?” Mara shivered in the cold. Or maybe it wasn’t all from the cold.

“We had a little talk. She knows where the wolf went.”

“What?” Mara’s eyes widened and her heart thudded against her chest. A few drops of water escaped her clenched fists.

“Calm down, honey. I don’t know how, but she’s got some knowledge of werewolves. She wouldn’t tell me how she knew, but she knew.”

“And?”

“And we’re good. I’m not sure she likes me yet, but she knows I’m not leaving you.”

Something inside Mara broke. Her eyes burned with the first prickles of tears that she refused to let fall. Jen’s visit had been a test of sorts—albeit unexpected. Cade might fit into her life. Or a life they’d form together. A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine. Jen accepted him. Of course, she’d have to corner her best friend and give her the third degree, but that could wait until after Cade’s pack showed up. How the hell did Jen know about werewolves anyway? And how did she know Cade was one?

“Mara?” Cade’s deep voice broke through her thoughts. Her hands had gone numb. It was too cold outside and she needed to sit down. Now. “Come—” Her voice broke and she cleared her throat. “Come inside.”

Cade shot her a look filled with intense passion and need. His normally glacier-blue eyes were as turbulent as ocean in a storm, and his full lips were set in an intense scowl. Under the Seahawks sweatshirt, his chest heaved with breath. Legs coiled and bunched and he sprang for her, grabbing her in his strong arms and tossing her over his shoulder.

Giggling and squirming, she beat her fists on his back, but she had no desire to be anywhere but against his body. The front door slammed, locked, and she was flat on her back on her bed in seconds. Cade caged her body with his arms, a growl shooting raw need directly to her core.

“You’re mine, honey. I want you. I
need
you.”

Words didn’t seem adequate. Mara slid her hands under his sweatshirt, over the ridges of muscle along his abdomen, and up to his chest. His nipples were tiny hard nubs and she raked her short nails over the sensitive flesh. He growled again, grinding his pelvis into hers. Down her hands went, to the waistband of the jeans that were still too big, fumbling and then ripping off the belt, shoving the thick denim down to his knees.

“I can’t be gentle,” he said. Cade attacked her with a savage kiss that left her breathless, lips swollen and tingling.

“Do I. . .” she gasped, carding her fingers through his shaggy locks to pull him down for another kiss, “. . . seem fragile right now?”

“God no.”

“Then what are you waiting for?” She tugged on a fistful of his hair, forcing his head up to look at her. “Take me.”

Her sweater sailed across the room, leaving her breasts encased in the small lace triangles of her bra.
I want you laid out like a banquet.
His words came back to her when he tugged off her jeans, purring at the sight of her pale skin against the black lace. Socks, his sweatshirt, and his boxers quickly followed. Mara let her gaze trail slowly down his body. The scars would forever be a part of him, but even after only a few days, they’d faded slightly. His chest was filling out, and his cheeks were no longer hollow. His cock jutted out proudly from the patch of steely curls, a bead of his essence glistening.

The scent of him calmed the storm of emotions rolling through her. She arched her back when his arms came around her, affording him the access to loosen her bra and jerk it roughly off of her body.

“God. Your breasts are perfect. You’re perfect.” He palmed one soft mound and suckled the other in his mouth. Stubble tickled the sensitive skin. Mara writhed under him, aching for release. Cade bit down, hard. Pain stabbed her breast and shot to her core.

“Cade! More,” she begged. It took everything she had to loosen her desperate grip on the bed sheets and try to push down her panties so he could fill her.

He wasn’t gentle, but she didn’t care. With a grunt, he buried himself deep inside of her, the slick heat welcoming his length. “Not without you,” he growled and thrust twice. Enough to send shooting waves of pleasure all through her body, curling her toes, but not enough to send her over the edge.

A mewl of disappointment escaped her lips unbidden when he pulled out, but the emptiness she felt from the absence of his cock was soon replaced by fingers and tongue. Two rough digits slipped inside of her and he lapped at the sensitive kernel of nerves above her entrance.

“You taste like rain,” he whispered against her and the vibrations of his lips brought her closer to the edge. “All I need. Forever. You.”

The storm of sensations built. Lids hooded, half-blind with the feel of him against her, Mara tried not to scream.

“Go over, honey. Come for me,” he commanded, biting down on her sweet spot and simultaneously thrusting three fingers deep inside of her. Her body contracted around him, an implosion that sucked all air from the room, bathed her naked skin with dew, and then shot out in a percussive wave, droplets of water hitting the walls, the floor, and the ceiling. Her hoarse scream of release was foreign to her own ears. The waves wouldn’t stop, she couldn’t breathe, she could only feel. Helpless, she held onto him. It wasn’t until he slid into her that she came back to herself.

“Cade.”

“I’m right here, honey. Right here. I’m not going anywhere.” He took up a rhythm that matched the thumping of her heart. Gold flecks glowed in his glacier-blue eyes. His wolf took control, even in the body of the man. Deep, satisfied sounds of pleasure rolled through his chest. Their eyes locked. “Together this time,” he said with a grin and swirled his hips slightly against her.

There was tenderness now, with his lips inches from hers. “You’re mine,” he said again, raining kisses along her jaw. “I’ll protect you forever if you’ll let me.”

His teeth nipped at her neck, biting and holding her still as the pressure built again. This time it was sweet and luscious, taking her higher until she soared off the cliff. Held in his arms, they fell back to the earth together.

Two hours later, totally spent, Mara rolled off of Cade’s body. “I need a shower. I think I’m dehydrated.” Mara headed for the bath, but Cade grabbed her arm and brought her wrist to his nose. “Hey.” She pulled her hand back. “You don’t need to sniff me every time I mention not feeling one hundred percent.”

He growled. It wasn’t a word, but a possessive, guttural demand for her to freeze in her tracks and look at him. Nothing prepared her for the shock of heat that flashed through her.

“I can tell how strong your element is, honey. And you can be damn sure I’m not going to let it weaken. Go. I’m going to get you a glass of water and I’ll be in.” He turned on his heel and strode naked out of the room.

Mara stood still and sputtered to herself.
Stupid alpha male bullshit
. They were going to have to have a serious talk about this. She grabbed her robe and ducked into the bathroom across the hall. The water relaxed her aching muscles. Eleanor warned her that the first few days would be tough, but every part of her body ached like she’d run a marathon. Even with the pain and the exhaustion, she felt better now than she’d felt in months.

Each individual droplet of water produced its own sensation along her skin. Eleanor thought she’d eventually be powerful enough to make it rain. Could she really control that much water? She closed her eyes and took in a deep, humid breath.
Start with one drop
.

Tipping her head up, she watched the water fall. The element tugged on her soul. Tiny vibrations hummed, resonating with her heartbeat. It was as if each drop had its own tune, its own note. She focused on one, holding it in her mind and slowing its vibration. Slower. Slower. A single droplet hovered above her breasts and detoured around her body. Then another note . . . another drop. A third. A fourth. The water pooled at her feet, ran down the drain, but not a single drop touched her torso, arms, or thighs. She was doing it. She was controlling the water.

“Shit.”

Cade’s deep voice startled her. She lost her concentration and the water resumed its gentle caress of her body. Too much. It had been too hard to manipulate that volume of water. Her knees buckled and Cade caught her in his arms. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m okay. Let me go.”

“No.” He kept an arm around her waist and let the water sluice down his back, protecting her. His voice was low and controlled. “Save your strength in case we need it.”

“I have to practice. And back off a little, okay? You’re not my alpha.” She extricated herself and dumped a bit of shampoo into her hands, massaging it into her scalp. She was angry—both at his tone and her body’s betrayal. Still, she couldn’t help staring at his nakedness. He was breathtaking. Strong shoulders, that sandy hair that dusted his chest, a six-pack Olympic athletes would envy, and obliques that angled sexily towards his cock. He had a patch of steel and flax curls that did nothing to hide his length.

Under the hot water, her cheeks flamed and she turned around to rinse her hair.

“Let me.”

Mara dropped her hands. His capable fingers massaged her scalp. She moaned and leaned against him. He kneaded down her neck, across her shoulders, and growled quietly. “You’re too tense. I don’t like it.”

Suddenly, Cade spun her around and kissed her like she was his entire world. Her back pressed against the tile shower wall, her arms came around his neck of their own volition, and her hips pressed urgently to his. Cade’s stubble scraped over her upper lip, his teeth nipping, his tongue demanding. Her body couldn’t get enough of him. Mara fought against the urge to slide her legs around his hips.

“Mmmm, Cade, stop.” She pulled away. “You can’t honestly mean to go again.”

“If we don’t, I’m not going to be able to stand it. You don’t understand. The mating—it’s . . .”

“I need a break,” Mara replied with a wince. “I think we’ve had more sex in two days than I had with Roger in a year. I need an hour. Maybe two. Keep it in your pants.”

“I’m not wearing any.”

The absurdity and obviousness of that statement raised a bubbling laugh inside of Mara. She couldn’t help it. His pack was on their way, he’d claimed her as his mate, and she suspected that despite his possessive nature, she might be falling in love with him.

“No, you’re not. Fine. Keep it . . . over there.” She pointed to the far corner of her small shower. Rinsing the last bit of soap from her body, she slipped out and wrapped a towel around her. Cade hadn’t moved from where she’d ordered him. Two could play at this alpha game. “Okay. You can move. But keep a few inches between us, okay?”