Running with the Pack: Cannon Pack, Book 3 (29 page)

“Yes?” Lauren’s tone was soft, tentative.

“What this clod is taking his god-awful time asking is this: Will you come home with him? You’re his mate now. You’re one of us now. Of course, that also means you’re stuck with this tongue-tied clod, but, hey, at least you’ll get to run with the pack.”

Daniel longed to wrap his hands around Tucker’s neck but, in order to do so, he’d have to move, exposing Lauren.

“So even after I said yes to your bite, you’re still afraid to ask me to live with you?” She arched an eyebrow, her lips pulled into a smirk.

Daniel held up his hand, silencing Tucker. “Yeah. But only if that’s what you want. I don’t want to pressure you.” Much less kidnap her. Would she hold that against him? He doubted it, but who knew? The silence, however, was deafening.

Tucker, however, wasn’t finished mouthing off. “Say yes, darlin’, and you’ll gain an instant family, too.”

Aw, hell. If he’d wanted to strangle his friend before, now he wanted to skin him alive, then boil him in oil. His and Torrie’s children were the great joy of his life, but that didn’t mean Lauren wanted a ready-made family. Especially a ready-made shifter family. He’d planned on easing into the topic of his children, but Tucker had blown his plan apart more effectively than a block of dynamite. Now he’d have to forge ahead and hope for the best.

“You have children, Daniel? Torrie’s children?”

He had to see her, to interpret her emotions before she made a decision. Facing her, he studied her expression, her eyes, her body language. She stayed close to him, meeting his frank perusal with her own, her body tucked into a tight ball. “I have two great kids. A girl and a boy.” He couldn’t help it. Just thinking about his children always made him smile. “Lance, he’s six, and he’s all boy, all shifter, and loves to stay in wolf form. Tracey, who’s three, is just like Torrie. She’s beautiful, caring, loves everyone and everything which, of course, worries me.”

She touched his hand, giving him the reassurance he needed. “You’re afraid she won’t see danger when it comes at her. Like her mother.”

“I know I should have mentioned them before I marked you, but…”

“I understand. We both kind of jumped into this.”

“In a way, but I’ve wanted to make you mine for a while now.” He choked, relieved that she understood. “They’re great kids, Lauren. But I understand if you don’t want to get involved with someone with children. If you want me, if you want to come with me back to hills, then you’ll have to accept them, too. It’s like they say: We’re a package.”

Her eyelids fluttered, waving her lashes at him. The simple unconscious action zipped lust into his abdomen and, if Tucker hadn’t been watching, he would’ve pushed her on her knees and had her again.

“They sound terrific.” She bit back a giggle. “I’d ask to see photos but, under the circumstances—” her gaze fell below his stomach, “—I doubt you have them on you.”

Her light joke spurred him on, hope filling him. “I don’t need photos if you decide to come home with me. Once you meet them…” Could he really expect her to fall in love with them that fast?

“I’m sure I’ll love them.” She saw into his very soul with that one look and said the best words he could ever hear. “If they’re anything like you, I’ll love them. But will they like me? Will they accept me?”

He had to warn himself not to shout his happiness to the world. “In time. How could they not?”

“Damn, you two are getting downright lovey-dovey.” Tucker shook his head at them. “I’m getting the hell out of here before I upchuck from all this sticky sweetness. Daniel, I’ll see you later for sure. Lauren, as far as I’m concerned, you can run with the pack anytime you want. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some hunters to boss around and a lady friend to take home.” He tossed her a grin and strode away.

Daniel’s joy exploded and he pulled Lauren on top of him. “So, just to make sure I’ve got this right, you’ll come with me and be my mate? I marked you, but that doesn’t mean you have to go. But say the words, Lauren. I need to hear the words.”

“Yes, Daniel Cannon, I’ll come with you. I love you, ya big wolfman.” She tugged her shirt over her head and tossed it away. “However, I’ll only come with you on one condition.”

He struggled to tear his attention away from her breasts and failed until she tilted his head up to meet her sultry expression. “Yeah. One condition. Name it.”

“I’ll come with you and I’ll be your mate, if you make love to me again. Right now. Right here.”

The breeze blew her soft curls, making her seem like an angel in flight. Pulling her down to him, he nuzzled his face in the curve of her neck. “You’ve got a deal.”

Epilogue

“Lance Cannon, if you pull your sister’s tail one more time, I’m going to give you a consequence you won’t soon forget.” Lauren made her “mommy’s mad” face and pointed a finger at the precocious werewolf. His pretty sister, Tracey, giggled and pointed her own finger at her brother.

The young werewolf shot her a fang-filled grin, wagged his tail and sat on his haunches, the picture of innocence. He cocked his head, reminding her of Daniel’s gesture, his question silent but unmistakable.

“You’re wondering what the punishment is, aren’t you?” He nodded, sticking to the silent routine. “If you pull your sister’s tail again, I’ll make you stay in human form for the rest of the week.” She almost laughed at the horrified expression on the young shifter’s face. “Have I made myself clear?” Lance yelped, then twirled around twice, pretending to chase his tail. Lauren chuckled, knowing he played the fool because she thought his antics were funny. “Now off to spend the night with your Aunt Sydney. Both of you.”

Strong arms slipped around her waist. Recognizing the familiar scent, she leaned into Daniel, liking the way he supported her weight. “Ah, there you are.” She sniffed again, loving one of the perks of being a shifter. Soon after coming to the pack’s home in the mountains, she’d gone through the Change. She loved staying in the magnificent caves where most of the pack lived. “Where have you been?”

As if she didn’t know. She could smell Tucker’s aroma on him, knew the two men met every day to discuss pack business. But she could sense they’d discussed more than the everyday matters of the pack today. She’d known something was up ever since the council had made their decision about John, sending him to Chicago to face whatever happened to him there.

“Talking with Tucker.” Daniel turned her to face him, buried his hands in her hair and kissed her deeply, lovingly. “But I figured you already knew that.”

She sighed, contented and blissful. “Uh-huh. And what kind of trouble are you two brewing up?”

He feigned shock, but she knew better.

“Well, if you must know, nosy woman.” He ducked away, narrowly missing her playful swipe at him. “Tucker wants to go out on his own.”

She’d suspected something different about Tucker in recent days, but she hadn’t expected that. “What do you mean out on his own?”

“He wants to start his own pack.”

A werewolf starting his own pack was rare and dangerous, especially in an area that already had several packs. Most pack leaders wouldn’t hear of it, would consider it a challenge to their authority, but did Daniel? “And what did you say?”

“I told him to go for it.”

Her mate never failed to surprise her. “You did? Aren’t you worried for him?”

“He understands what’s involved. Besides, he’s leaving the area.” Daniel played with a strand of her hair, a sure sign he wanted sex.

“Where’s he going?” Tucker was such an integral part of their pack that she had a hard time thinking of the pack without him.

“He wants to see what Oklahoma is like.”

The surprises just kept on coming. “Oklahoma? Why does he want to go there? Are there any mountains, any forests there? Daniel, has he really thought this idea through?”

He lifted her, carrying her toward their cave, and she locked her hands behind his neck.

“He wants a city pack. But they have enough unoccupied land that they can run when they want to.”

She slapped his hand away from her breasts, intent on finishing this conversation first. “Daniel, stop. Talk first. Then sex.”

He dropped her, exasperation showing in his features, in his demeanor. “Fine. Let’s get this over with. Tucker is going to Oklahoma and I support him.”

“And your brothers? Do they support him, too?” Jason would more than likely go along with the idea, but Devlin didn’t like losing pack members.

“I’ll talk them into it.” He paused, waiting for her next question. “Are we good now?”

She nodded, figuring she shouldn’t push too hard. “For now. But we’re going to talk again later. Okay?”

“Anything you say, my love.”

Easing her onto their bed, she watched as her sexy mate quickly lost his clothes, then removed hers. Her gaze slid hungrily down his chest, over the hard stomach to rest on the object of her lust. “You’re just saying that to shut me up, aren’t you?”

His answer, however, was muffled as he dove between her legs.

About the Author

To learn more about Beverly Rae, please visit
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[email protected]
or join her Yahoo! group to join in the fun with other readers as well as Beverly!
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Look for these titles by Beverly Rae

Now Available:

Wild Cat

I Married a Dragon

Cougar

Dance on the Wilde Side

Howling for My Baby

I Married a Demon

Magical Mayhem

To Fat and Back

Wailing for Love

Touch Me

Coming Soon:

Wild Things

Magical Sex

She’s a real wild cat…in and out of bed.

Wild Cat

© 2010 Beverly Rae

Wild Things, Book 2

Alexandra’s brother has changed since his mate’s death, but she’s certain he’s no cattle killer. When she gets the chance to track down the real culprit, she jumps at the opportunity to clear the suspicions hovering over his head. And maybe ease her own grief.

Connor would do anything for Alex—even be her mate if she would only ask. Instead he settles for coming with her, ready to protect her from the rogue as well as human hunters. When another tracker shows up accusing them of the crime, though, there’s no stopping Alex’s instant attraction to the lone werewolf.

Dirk is on the same mission, but for a different reason: His pack owes one of the ranchers a favor. Once he finds Alex examining the latest bovine victim, though, he shifts his goals to include her mile-long legs wrapped around his waist. If only he can get past her interfering friend.

Trigger-happy hunters send them all into hiding, where huddling for warmth turns hotter than expected. The heat burns away any pretense that this is a sexual romp. It’s a destined love that a killer could destroy…unless Alex makes a heartbreaking choice.

Warning: Beware of claws, fangs and weapons of a very personal nature. The sex is hot and raw, including the kind of threesome you’d love to have. Oh, yeah, and a heart-wrenching plot.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Wild Cat:

Alexandra sighed, enjoying the warmth surrounding her. How could she not think of sex with two very masculine, very well-endowed men sandwiching her? Conner’s wide chest rubbed against the tips of her nipples which, of course, reacted in a perfectly natural way. With Dirk’s hard pecs pushing against her back, she developed a whole new meaning to the phrase, “caught between a rock and a hard place”. Not that she was about to complain.

Trying to keep from touching anything too personal, she tucked one arm under her head and rested the other along her leg. Soon, however, her legs grew stiff and she needed to move. Trusting Conner more than the wily werewolf edging ever closer to her, she lifted her leg and gently laid it on top of Conner’s. He tensed at her touch, then relaxed, his breathing evening out.

If only she could sort out her feelings for Conner. She loved him, adored the friend she’d grown up and knew he’d make a caring and supportive mate. Logically, he was a great choice. Yet, although she was sexually attracted to him, would take him to bed if he wouldn’t make more out of it than merely a sexual romp, she couldn’t, wouldn’t take a mate until she found the extra sizzle simmering right below the surface that meant a lifetime of passion. She sighed and wished Conner thrilled her that way.

Something hard bumped into her buttocks, coming to rest in the cleft between her cheeks. She inhaled, knowing exactly what that something was. Her first instinct was to slap it away as she’d done his arm, but she held back, enjoying the way the long rod grew even longer and thicker against her sensitive backside. Dirk’s shaft was impressive. Impressive and very insistent. Hoping he’d think she was moving in her sleep, she arched her back, pushing her breasts harder against Conner’s chest and wedging Dirk’s cock deeper into her butt crack. He groaned, making her freeze. Was that a good groan? Or a frustrated one?

She took a peek at Conner. His eyes were closed, but his lips were parted, almost as though— She gasped as Conner’s tongue snaked out to lightly touch her mouth, then slowly glided toward the corner. Squeezing her eyes closed, she wondered if Dirk could see what Conner was up to.

Suddenly, the rough texture of a different tongue tracked along the curve of her neck. Alex shuddered, pleased, excited and a little guilty. What would Conner do if he knew? She didn’t think the werewolf would mind sharing, but her friend would. She’d heard about werecats having sex with werewolves, but she’d never considered it—until Dirk. But what about sex with both a werecat and a werewolf? Her heart pounded at the idea.

Dirk’s hand found her left buttock, then fingered its way under her T-shirt and along the curve of her waist. Moving her arm barely enough for him to slip under it, she remained motionless and waited to see where he’d stop. He paused, then let his hand fall, coming to rest over her belly button. Conner scrunched closer and placed his hand on the side of her breast.