Cougar's Gift: Pacific Northwest Cougars: (Shifter Romance) (13 page)

S
he’d chosen
one of the few pairs of jeans she owned for today. Not that she didn’t like them, but at work it was always easier to sit on the floor in skirts to read to the children or shelve books without having your circulation cut off by a pair of skinny jeans.

Her worn pair of blue jeans that had one knee torn open were soft from a million washes. She’d bought them used like most of her clothes. And they had been well worn then, now they were practically threadbare in places.

She’d grabbed a long sleeve white t-shirt that was tight down her arms then threw on a chunky sleeveless gray sweater that had a cowl neck. The top would fall off her shoulder frequently, that was the reason for the undershirt.

A pair of old cowboy boots she’d worn for a town barn dance a few years ago were unearthed, then grabbed her jacket and helmet before heading out the door. She was sure her parents hadn’t realized that she was riding on his motorcycle so she hid the helmet inside the jacket.

Walking down the street, she breathed in the crisp morning air. The dew was just burning off and you could almost smell the season changing. She waved at Mr. Parker who was staring out his kitchen window. And then she practically skipped to the library.

Waiting on the curb, leaning up against his motorcycle was her man. Yes, she totally thought of him like that now. Her man, for as long as he stuck around.

His gaze was directed down the road she was travelling. He’d been waiting for her. A smirk played around his lips as he saw her huge grin when she spotted him. She knew she should play it cool and aloof.

At least that’s what she’d seen the girls do in college. Always teasing along different guys.

Libby didn’t have that artifice built in. She was happy she smiled, she was sad she cried. And right now she was pretty freaking happy. A hot guy waiting for her smiling his little smile, just for her, felt like she’d won the lottery.

“Hey,” she said when she reached him.

“Mouse,” he said low. “You got something for me?”

Libby thought quickly, was she supposed to bring something? A hostess gift? Lunch perhaps? Her puckered brow and lips made Stryker laugh out loud.

“Kiss me, woman,” he said.

Oh, she could totally do that she thought.

Leaning into his hard body she let her hands rest on his firm abs as she reached up to let her lips touch his. She was trying to reach him, but she’d started her approach at the end of his legs which were stretched out in front of him. Her lips barely made contact and he did nothing to help her.

She stepped back and assessed the situation. She could come at him from the side or she could force him to give her the space. She chose the latter.

Putting her hands on his knees she gave them a little shove. He immediately opened his legs, bending them to make space for her. She stepped between them and smiled. He smiled back.

She tried again with the kiss this time with much more success. She licked the seal of his lips, teasing his soft lips with her tongue. He opened letting her explore him like he so frequently did with her.

Libby loved having the control. Stryker wasn’t a limp fish, but he was letting her control the show. They kissed and kissed as Stryker’s hands made their way to her ass to haul her up against the hardness between his legs. She loved knowing he was hard for her. It was flattering and hot.

Stryker decided he’d let her play enough and took over the kiss. He swept her mouth deep giving her a proper good morning. Pulling back, he brought a hand up to the braid that was resting over one shoulder.

“Sleep good?” he asked, his voice gruff from their sexy fun.

“Mmm, not so much. You seem to be disturbing my dreams, Mr. Hayes,” she said, her eyes scanning over his face.

He hadn’t shaved this morning so his jaw line was scruffy and she wanted to drag her nails along it. Feel the texture, wonder what it would feel like on other parts of her body.

“I’m very sorry about that, I would hope you would only have good dreams about me.”

“Oh, they were good all right,” she said, blushing a little

She watched his eyebrows go up. “Oh really? Why don’t you tell me all about your dreams, mouse. I think I might find them very instructive.” He said the last part with a strange purr.

“Hmm, maybe later,” she hedged.

Stryker really wanted to push her, but now was not the time. He wanted to give her a great day. Some time alone just the two of them. Maybe he’d get her to think about their future together.

“All right, rain check. Hop on,” he said, setting her away from him and getting on the bike.

He turned and helped her with her helmet before offering her a hand. He grabbed his helmet from the gas tank and slid it on.

His was a skull cap type that Libby didn’t think offered a whole lot of real protection. Hers was a full head, front mask type. It made it hard to lay her head against him, but was probably a heck of a lot safer.

Once she was seated and tucked up tight against him he kicked over the motor and took off. They didn’t ride for very long, but Libby was enjoying the scenery. She hadn’t even bothered to ask where they were going.

She really didn’t care as long as she was with him. She was either a trusting fool or just head over heels. She knew the answer was both.

Stryker turned off the main road and down a gravel path. He slowed down to keep the rocks from kicking up. They reached a clearing and there was a little red cabin sitting in the woods.

Stopping next to the house he turned off the motor. Helping her off he followed removing both of their helmets and sitting them on the bike seat.

Libby was looking around taking in the quiet of the location. She didn’t need to be told that this was where he lived.

It was a small cabin that someone probably used for hunting or camping at some point. But it appeared to be more about warming up from being outdoors then long term living. There were nice windows, a sturdy front door, and a chimney. She didn’t doubt that inside had all the modern conveniences.

“My place,” he grunted.

She turned and smiled at him sweetly. “I figured,” she said quietly.

“Come on in,” he said, gesturing towards the steps up to the door.

There was a tiny porch and Stryker pulled open the screen door holding it with his foot before pushing open the door. Clearly he left it unlocked not worried about intruders.

He held the door open for her to enter first. She walked in and found a room that was a living room, kitchen, and eating area all in one.

The furniture was all rustic oak with patterns of trees and deer on them. Probably came furnished she suspected. It was tidy, almost too tidy. There wasn’t anything personal lying about. No pictures, no dirty clothes on the floor, not even a dish in the sink.

“Tidy,” she murmured.

“Don’t like clutter,” he said.

Peering down the hallway, Stryker saw her gaze and said, “Bedroom, bathroom.”

“It’s nice, Stryker. Comfy and quiet. I’m saving up to buy my own house someday. I don’t want a huge mortgage so I’m hoping to put down enough on it that it won’t stretch my monthly budget.”

“Smart, I don’t really like big houses,” he said, testing the waters.

He grew up in a mansion. He still stayed there when he was in California. It always felt so impersonal. It was beautiful and perfectly decorated by his mother.

He preferred the warehouses they kept their wine in. They smelled like oak barrels and dirt. You weren’t afraid to mess anything up in there. His brother Everett had moved to their pool house years ago to live a little freer.

“Me neither, but that’s just because I hate to clean. I’m much rather read. In fact, when I do have to clean, I usually listen to an audio book to keep me motivated,” she admitted.

“Have to get some bookshelves,” Stryker said looking around the room.

“You planning on starting a collection?” she asked, noting there were no books she could see.

“No, for you, when you’re here. You need something to read,” he explained like it was obvious.

Libby was taken aback. He was talking about altering his house for her comfort? That meant he thought she’d be there often enough to need books at her disposal. Squee!

She had to play it cool so she said what anyone would say, “Oh you don’t have to do that for me.” That was the proper thing to say. Inside she was thinking, hells yeah, slap up some bookcases!

“Yes I do, you need books to be happy. I want you happy here,” he said roughly.

Before she could answer there was a horn honk outside. Stryker moved to the window by the door and peered out.

Stryker made a pleased grunting noise. “Be right back.”

He opened the door and walked out leaving her alone in the house. Curious, she went to the window and saw a flatbed tow truck taking up most of the space on the gravel road. Stryker was talking to the driver through the window. The truck started backing up and Libby stepped out.

“
H
e lost
?” she asked. She imagined people came down the road all the time looking for something that wasn’t there.

“Nope, he’s just backing in,” Stryker explained.

“Friend of yours?” she pressed. She really wanted him to herself today. But if a buddy of his came over, she wasn’t going to be the bitchy girlfriend who stomped her foot at the intrusion.

“Never met him before,” he replied.

Grrr, it was like pulling teeth with him sometimes. Usually not with her, but other people. Realizing she wasn’t asking the right questions, she decided to stay quiet and observe before speaking up again. She had a better shot that way at guessing right.

The truck was now backing down the road with a large silver SUV on the back of it. Even from where she stood it looked new. As it got closer she could see the sales stickers still in the windows.

The tow truck started lowering the ramp and Stryker jumped up to help. They unchained the vehicle, lowered it down the ramp and then the driver jumped out with a clipboard.

Stryker made a fast signature on the bottom that in no way could be legible, Libby thought. Her dad was a doctor so she knew all about sloppy penmanship.

The driver took a moment, flipped through some pages then offered his hand to Stryker, which he shook. He was then back in his truck and on his way.

Libby thought she had a grasp on the situation now so tried, “Did you buy a car?”

“Yup,” Stryker said coming towards her.

“When?”

“Last night, after dinner,” he replied grabbing her hand. She followed him down the steps to the shiny new vehicle.

“Why?”

Now she was being the one-word girl. But she really didn’t think he was going to say yes. Her original thought was that someone was paying him for some mechanic work on the side away from the shop. That wasn’t uncommon.

“Because, the weather is going to get bad soon and you can’t ride on the back of my bike in the rain. It’s not safe. This is safe,” he said gesturing towards the car.

Libby saw that it said Range Rover on the back. She didn’t know cars, but she knew those didn’t come cheap.

“You bought a car to drive me around in?” she said, the shock clearly evident in her voice.

“Yeah,” he said, opening the passenger door for her.

She numbly got in and he shut the door. The interior had that new car smell. The seats were soft comfy leather and the dashboard looked like a giant computer screen. He was around the car and sitting in the driver’s seat before she could think of her next question.

“You can’t just buy a car for me to ride in. This car is expensive. I don’t want you to waste money on me,” she said, starting to feel very uncomfortable. Sure their relationship was moving at light speed. But a box of donuts was one thing. Large vehicle purchases another.

“Can you afford this?” she whispered. She hated asking, but her frugal side was itchy and needed answers.

“Live small, don’t usually buy much. I have money for this,” was all he answered.

Libby understood that her nest egg was nothing to sneeze at. But she still lived at home. This must have cost bank to order it and have it delivered.

She didn’t even know you could order a car and have it dropped off at your house. She figured her first car shopping experience was going to be at
Crazy Earls
:
Fine, New, and Used
, one town over.

“I don’t feel right about this. Would you have bought this if you weren’t seeing me?”

Stryker seemed to ponder that for a moment. “No.”

She should have guessed that would have been his answer. “Stryker you have to send this back. Can you return cars? I don’t feel right you spending money because of me.” She said this lamely because it sounded a little pathetic like she didn’t value herself or something. It wasn’t like he was giving the car to her, she was just going to ride around in it occasionally.

“Libby, look at me,” he said, turning towards her. She faced him in her seat and met his eyes.

“I don’t care how much it costs or what I have to do to make sure that you are safe. I told you that we are together and that means you’re my responsibility. It is my duty and honor to protect you.

Whether that’s motorcycle helmets or a car with six airbags and a five-star safety rating. Your well-being is my number one concern. You need to get used to that. In my world, the moment I met you, you became my only priority.”

“Wow, that’s nice,” she said in a hushed tone. Then realized she’d said that out loud. That wasn’t her intention.

“Glad you think so,” he said with a smirk. “Do you like the car?”

“Uh yeah, Stryker, I like the car. It’s beautiful.” Turning to peer in the back she saw there were two more rows of seats. “Wow, that’s a lot of seats. You planning on picking up hitchhikers?”

“Planning for the future,” he said cryptically.

Either that meant he was thinking of starting a band or he was talking about children? No, that was just her overly excited ovaries wishful thinking.

But it did give her a second to ponder. If she was willing to sleep with him, would she be willing to have a family with him? The quick answer was yes.

“Well, as long as it’s something that you were thinking of getting anyway, I won’t feel guilty,” she mumbled.

“No, I wasn’t planning on buying a car. My motorcycle is all I’ve ever needed. I bought this to give me a small assurance that you will be as safe as I can make you while we travel.” Stryker said this but saw he wasn’t quite getting his point across.

“We need to talk,” he said and opened his car door.