Clay's Hope (21 page)

She moved slighting, angling the chaste kiss
as she reached up to gently brush her fingers along my face,
exploring my forehead, ear, and jaw. I couldn’t hold back. I tilted
my head and started to nibble at her lips.

Her desire changed to panic, and I cursed
myself as she pulled away and opened her eyes. Her shock and gasp
made my heart sink.

Was she so afraid of a kiss?

“What happened?”

Her concern confused me.

“I thought werewolves weren’t supposed to
get hurt like this.”

Crap. She’d moved my hair and was staring at
my blackened face. Wait. Did that mean she hadn’t minded the kiss,
then? Before the thought could firmly settle in my mind, she
bounded off the bed again.

“A deal’s a deal. Go shower and shave. After
you’re done, we can play charades until I have the story behind the
black eye.”

Screw the black eye, I wanted her back on
the bed.

“That or I call Sam.”

I ran my hand through my hair in
frustration, then sighed and sat up. The mood was obviously
broken.

Swinging my feet over the bed, I turned away
from her, ready to go take a cold shower when she came rushing over
to me again. I didn’t stand. She’d be able to reach my lips easier
this way. Only she didn’t rush to my front. She reached around me
and tugged up my shirt. Somehow, I doubted her actions related to
continuing our kiss.

“What happened?” she asked again, sounding
really upset this time. She nudged my arm away from my side and
leaned closer to inspect the bruises there. I held still, liking it
when she ran gentle fingers over the marks.

“This is really scaring me, Clay. I thought
werewolves were supposed to be this tough, nearly indestructible,
race.”

I fought three wolves, one right after the
other. How tough did she need me?

“Is this why you were gone last night when I
came home?”

She sounded sad and mad at the same time. I
didn’t think there was any correct answer so I remained silent. As
usual.

“Fine.”

She turned to leave, obviously angry, but I
caught her wrist and gently tugged her to my side. I brought her
hand to my mouth and kissed the back of it and then her knuckles,
unwilling to let her leave angry. I knew I’d won when she brushed
her fingers through my hair.

“I’ve lost everyone that’s ever really
mattered to me. I thought caring about a werewolf would be safer,”
she said softly.

I looked up, my heart breaking for the
lonely woman reflected in her gaze. Then I pulled her into my arms.
She’d never be lonely again. I wouldn’t leave her, no matter
what.

Eventually, she pulled away and mumbled
something about making breakfast. She fled the room, leaving me to
my thoughts as she cooked. I would have joined her, but I knew
Rachel was still home.

Gabby cared for me. Her own words. But
caring wasn’t love. Though I’d happily take any form of affection
she’d willingly give, I knew caring wouldn’t be enough of a bond to
stop the challengers.

Would it be enough to ask her to complete
the Claim?

I still didn’t have the answer when Gabby
returned with two steaming plates. With a shy smile, she offered me
one then sat on the bed beside me. We ate in silence. It wasn’t
easy to stay focused on the food. The lingering feel of her lips on
mine, her hands on my shoulders, consumed me.

Her comment about finding my lips rang in my
head, too. Could that be her obsession with trimming my beard? Did
she want to see my skin so she knew where to bite? A tremor shot
through me, and I hurried to eat. I needed to shave.

Before I finished, I heard Rachel leave.
Good.

Gabby took our plates and left the room.
While she washed dishes, I slipped into the bathroom with scissors
and a razor.

I trimmed back the whiskers from around my
mouth and shaved everything from my neck. A shudder of anticipation
rippled over me as I stared at the exposed skin in the mirror. Now,
I was ready for her to bite me and Claim me as her own.

After a quick shower, during which I heard
her pause often outside the door, I dressed and tried to calm
myself. Would she Claim me right away? My gut clenched at the
thought, then reason kicked in. Probably not. She wouldn’t rush
into it. But, she might kiss me some more.

With that thought in my head, I reached for
the doorknob but a knock on the front door stopped me from stepping
out. I turned back toward the mirror and scowled at myself. Why
now? I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. Unsure if
Gabby wanted me to make my presence known, I waited and listened as
she went to answer the door.

At Gabby’s faint words, I curled my hands
into fists.

“Morning, Sam. This is a surprise.”

I wanted to curse and hit something. Sam
showing up was not a good sign.

“Um, don’t get me wrong, I like seeing you,
but is there a reason you’re here?”

The impatience in Gabby’s voice helped calm
me. She wanted to see me because she knew I’d shaved. For her.

“We’ll wait for Clay,” Sam said.

With a deep breath, I reached for the
door.

Gabby turned to look at me as I padded into
the living room. Excitement made her eyes shine. I wanted to go
straight to her, wrap my arms around her, and let her inspect me
for as long as she’d like. Too bad Sam stood by the door watching
us.

Still, I focused on Gabby as she focused on
me. Her gaze took in my clothes then zeroed in on my face, and,
lastly, my exposed neck. There, she lingered. My pulse jumped.
Could she see what she did to me with just a glance?

Finally, she met my gaze again and smiled.
Behind her, Sam shifted, drawing my attention.

“You know why I’m here, Clay.”

Gabby glanced at Sam, a trace of annoyance
coloring her expression.

No doubt, he was here because of the
challenges. Did he honestly think I would step aside so easily?

“I’m told you didn’t take the news
well.”

I shrugged and crossed my arms. I thought I
took the news that other men would be coming after my woman with a
fair amount of grace.

Gabby caught my shrug and frowned.

“What’s going on? What news?” she said,
glancing between Sam and me.

“You didn’t tell her?” Sam said.

Crap.

“He’s not talking to me, yet,” Gabby
said.

Sam shook his head at me. “You’ve dug your
own hole then, son.” He looked at Gabby. “A group of Forlorn have
asked Elder Joshua to approach you for an unofficial kind of
Introduction. Joshua approved, but he made it clear they were to
keep it brief and then leave, unless any of them had a further
request of him.”

Anger spiked through me. I still resented
how the Elders were handling this.

A bitter tang reached me, and I realized I
wasn’t the only one struggling to control myself. Gabby’s fists
were clenched at her sides as she glared at Sam.

“I thought I was done with that. We had a
deal.” She crossed her arms, looking too much like me. “I know I
said I was done.”

Sam’s expression shifted slightly to one of
pity. “Honey, there are rules we must follow to keep peace in the
pack. Clay had six months to convince you of his suit. That time
has passed. That means unMated can once again approach you, with
permission.”

Gabby’s face flushed.

“That’s complete crap,” she said. “First of
all, I didn’t reject anyone. Second, no one ever told me about this
stupid rule.” Her voice rose, and she started jabbing the air with
her finger as she made each point. She seemed to realize it
suddenly and dropped her hands to her sides again. “You know what?
I don’t care what the pack rules are. I gave you my word and my
time. Now, I expect you to keep yours. I worked hard to get here,
Sam. I won’t let anyone take this away from me.”

“By not completing the Claim, you’ve become
eligible again. Charlene was granted a special consideration
because, at that time, we weren’t even sure a Claiming would be
possible between a human and a werewolf. Now that we know it is,
you fall under the same rules,” Sam said.

“No, I don’t. Is this why Clay was beat
up?”

I snorted. Beat up? Sure I was a bit
bruised, but she should see the other three. Apparently, making any
sort of noise during her current volatile mood was a wrong move
because she whirled on me.

“Feel free to jump in at any time,” she
said, arching a brow at me. She was beautiful all the time, more so
when angry and flushed.

“Gabby,” Sam said from behind her, “it’s the
reason he’s been fighting. He’s not relinquishing his tie to you.
Every time an unMated shows up here, he will challenge that man for
his right for Introduction. Did Clay get beat up? Only as a
byproduct of handing out beatings.”

She remained focused on me while he spoke,
and as she began to understand, her angry mask fell away, replaced
with one of concern. She swallowed hard then turned back to
Sam.

“Why is two years of school too much to ask
for?”

“And after that?” Sam said. “Then you’ll
want time to establish your career. Let’s face it. There will never
be a perfect time for this in your life. You just need to make the
best with what you have.”

She flushed again and stalked toward him. I
moved closer, concerned. In theory, Sam would never hurt her. She
was a female and the future of the pack. But he was a werewolf with
a temper like any other.

She poked him in the shoulder.

“No, Sam, you do. I’m not your pawn in this
game you play with women’s lives. I went to your Introductions and
fulfilled any obligation I felt I owed you for the roof over my
head. You have no say in who I see...or what I do, unless you
intend to drag me back to the Compound and physically force me to
bite someone.”

I’d been silently cheering her on until the
last part. The idea of the Elders forcing her to bite someone else
ripped a growl from me.

As if it were a signal, she stepped back and
moved closer to me.

“It’s time for you to leave, Sam. Don’t come
back.”

I could see her words hurt Sam, but I didn’t
feel any pity for him. He’d brought this on himself by not standing
up for her rights, too. His decisions had hurt her.

“You were never an obligation to me, Gabby.”
She looked away from him. He looked to me then. “You know it’d be
safer for both of you if the Introductions continued at the
Compound. If you keep going like this, there might be someone you
won’t beat. Are you willing to risk leaving her alone, then?”

Think of her safety.

I clenched my jaw.

I am. Sending males to Gabby unsupervised
was your choice.

Gabby glanced at me, her gaze drifting over
my bruises before she turned and went to open the door, a pointed
demand for Sam to leave.

“All right, then,” Sam said quietly. He
walked to the door and turned toward Gabby. “Gabby, call me
anytime. I’m here to help you, no matter what you might think right
now.”

She nodded, but her eyes glittered with
anger. After he walked out and she closed the door behind him, she
remained facing the door for a few seconds. I watched her take
several long breaths and knew she was trying to calm down. Was she
angry at me? I could care less if she remained mad at Sam.

I moved closer, wanting to touch her, but
waited.

She turned to look at me and reached up to
run her fingers through the whiskers along my jaw.

“Much better, but I’m going to keep at you
until it’s all shaved off, and maybe a haircut, too.”

At her first touch, my teeth lengthened so I
showed them to her again.

She didn’t seem to care. She spent time
studying my face and tracking her fingers along the skin of my
forehead and eye. I knew she was tracing the discolored areas and
wished I knew what she was thinking.

With a sigh, she stepped away. She didn’t
seem mad. Pensive, maybe.

“I need to get ready for class. Before I go,
would you show me where you got the coveralls from?”

I smiled slightly and nodded.

Less than five minutes later, we were
pulling up to Dale’s shop.

She was looking around with interest until
Dale moved to the partially opened bay door.

“Dale from the parking lot?” she whispered,
looking at me in surprise. I nodded and wondered why she remembered
Dale so well. Dale waved when he saw it was me.

I got out and moved around to open Gabby’s
door. I knew she was curious, but maybe having her meet Dale a
second time wasn’t such a good idea.

Gabby stepped out as Dale walked toward
us.

“Hi there, Gabby. Glad Clay finally brought
you around.” He held out his hand, and she clasped it briefly.

Why was I so jealous over a handshake?

“I have to tell you that I was surprised
when Clay showed up and was as good as you boasted. Although, it
doesn’t look like he’s been taking care of your car.”

Bull crap. What was Dale playing at?

“I’m always running back and forth to my
classes. It’s hard to give it up for any amount of time.” She
shrugged. “Speaking of which...” She glanced at me. “I really need
to get going, or I’ll be late. It was nice seeing you again, Dale.
I hope stopping in was okay. I really wanted to see where Clay was
working.”

“Stop by anytime.” Dale waved as we walked
back to the car.

“I’m sure there was some type of logic to
picking that place,” she said as I drove home. “Someday you’ll have
to tell me about it.”

After she dropped me off, I dressed for
work. No doubt Dale would have some questions for me.

When I got there, Dale joked about my black
eye and teased about keeping men away from Gabby but otherwise let
me work. He wasn’t too bad for a human.

By the time I finished the last work order,
I was ready to go home and spend time with Gabby. I couldn’t stop
thinking about our kiss.