Wolf's Lady (After the Crash Book 6.5) (6 page)

Sky lounged in his chair, looking supremely relaxed. Sand wondered if the Vice Mayor knew how false that was. Even with the scent of cut grass lingering in his nose Sand could smell Sky’s rage. Sky inclined his head with a lazy smile. “Of course.”

“Excellent.” Vann got to his feet and stretched a hand to Sky, who rose to shake it. “We will see both of you in the Mayor’s office at nine tomorrow morning.”

“Certainly,” Sky agreed. “Let me show you out. Sand, wait here for me, will you?”

It wasn’t a request. Sand watched Sky walk out of the office with the Vice Mayor, then took the visitor chair to wait for Sky to return. He should have done what he’d wanted last night and kicked Askup down the stairs instead of just taking him down them with one hand hooked under his arm.

Sky came back and closed the door so they were private. He slumped down on the corner of his desk and dropped his head into his hands. “Oh, lord, what a mess.”

“Askup already harassed me and Amanda in the park this morning. The City Guard dismissed his complaint. Is this something else?”

Sky looked up. “Yeah. Looks like Askup doesn’t like to hear no. Did Amanda tell you she refused his marriage proposal?”

Sand nodded. “She said she refused him in two seconds.”

“I’ll bet he thought he could still get her to say yes. He was willing to keep trying. But she’s considering you, so that makes his chances of winning her damn slim.” He stood straight with a growl. “You have to stop hurting our clients.”

“I didn’t hurt that weasel! I was polite. I told him his appointment was cancelled, and when he tried to push past me to go to Amanda’s room I was nice. All I did was block his way. Even when he tried to punch me, I only lifted him by his arm and walked downstairs with him. I could have thrown him down the steps.”

Sky rubbed a hand through his thick hair, dragging the locks that fell over his forehead back. “I can’t fault you. That seems reasonable enough. Normally, this kind of a complaint would blow over with no harm done. But Askup is one of the mayor’s best friends. This isn’t going to blow over.”

Sand lifted his lip in a derisive snarl. “What can they do about it?”

“At best, we’ll be let off with a fine.” Sky looked at Sand soberly. “At worst, we could both be condemned to death.”

Sand choked on horror. “What? I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“I know that.” Sky’s voice was grim. “The mayor will know it too, but Askup is one of his cronies, and one of his most generous supporters.” An ironic smile quirked the corner of his mouth. “Justice in Omaha is different than in Kearney.”

“Justice is justice,” Sand protested with a scowl.

“At the den, sure. Taye decides, and he doesn’t play favorites. But here, the mayor decides.”

Disgust climbed up Sand’s spine. “And he has favorites?”

His cousin nodded. “And guess who his top favorite is?”

“Terry Askup.”

“That’s right.” Sky strode to the door, pausing to glance back. “You’re a little thinner, but one of my suits will fit you well enough. I’ll have it sent to the bunkhouse for you.”

“I’ll be with my mate tonight.”

Sky nodded slowly. “Alright, I’ll send it to her room. Be ready to leave tomorrow morning by 8:00.”

Amanda put another spoonful of ice cream and strawberries into her mouth, gaze lingering on Sky’s face for a moment before going back to Sand’s. Both of them had been silent during supper, almost grim. She directed her eyes at Sky again. “Is something wrong?”

“No.”

She didn’t believe it. “Sand?”

The man beside her opened his mouth, but Sky sent him a commanding stare and answered for him. “No, Mandy.”

Sand frowned at Sky. “Amanda,” he said, in a pointed tone.

Sky frowned back at him.

“Her name is Amanda. Ah-Man-Dah. Don’t call her Mandy anymore, okay?”

With a blink, Sky nodded. “Okay.”

He remembered
, Amanda thought, feeling warmth slide around her heart in a tender hold. Sand was so sweet. She took another spoonful of ice cream. “What’s got you so down, Sky?”

The smile he gave her was almost fake, too much like the kind he gave visitors. “Nothing. It’s been a long day. Beautiful weather today. I suppose we should enjoy it while we can. Winter is only a few months away.”

He was lying. She knew it. Sand looked down into his bowl without speaking. She couldn’t say she knew him as well as she knew Sky, but except for the light that lifted his face at the sight of dessert, his face had been grave since he came to the table. She liked the expression of delight at the sight of the ice cream. Her suitor must have a sweet tooth. A wicked smile curved her lips. He liked ice cream. Maybe he would like to lick it off her breasts. Desire, so easily aroused when she thought of Sand, flooded her as she imaged cold ice cream and his hot tongue against her breasts.

His hand seized her wrist. She looked up into dark eyes staring at her with the same hungry delight he’d shown the ice cream. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply. He opened his mouth for the spoon she lifted to his lips.

“Oh, for pity’s sake,” Sky groaned. “Not at the table!”

Amanda glanced around at the others eating supper. Some studiously ignored Amanda and Sand, others watched frankly. Paint had an expression of stark longing on his face, but it vanished as soon as he saw her watching him.

Sand leaned close. “Are you done eating?”

She nodded, and followed him out of the dining room to her room upstairs. He slammed the door shut behind them and dragged her against his chest. He had showered before supper. She could smell the shampoo on his still damp braid and the scent of soap tickled her nose where she pressed it against his throat.

“What are you thinking of?” he growled.

“You,” she murmured, dropping her head back to look up at him under her lashes. “Licking ice cream off my breasts.” She felt his cock stir against her belly. “You like ice cream, don’t you, Sand?”

His voice was slightly hoarse. “Yeah.”

“Kiss me.”

His lips were soft, gentle against hers. Chaste. That wasn’t the kind of kiss she wanted from him. She wanted him hot and demanding, and she got that for several long minutes before he pulled away and held her at arm’s length. His unsteady panting put a smug smile on her face.

“You can’t be done kissing me,” she pouted teasingly. “Don’t you want to kiss me again?”

“Only—” His voice broke and he had to clear his throat. “Only as much as I want to breathe. But we need to stop before I forget myself. Unless … Have you decided to be my mate?”

The hope on his face brought shame to hers. “No.” She made her tone gentle. “I haven’t decided yet.” To keep herself from pouring out excuses, she turned the subject. “What has you and Sky looking so glum? He wouldn’t tell me. Will you?”

He dropped his hands from her shoulders and looked her right in the eye. “Maybe Sky wants to protect you from worry.”

“But you don’t want to protect me?”

“From anyone who would hurt you, yeah. But you’re grown up. Keeping secrets from you seems wrong. Do you want to know, even if it’s something you can’t do anything about?”

Amazing. He really seemed to care about her feelings. He treated her like an adult, not a doll. Too many of her appointments acted like she had no feelings or hopes or dreams of her own. Her heart melted a little bit more. “Yes.”

He nodded. “Peter Vann was here today. He says me and Sky have to go to an investigation of a complaint that Askup made about me. An inquiry.”

Hot rage welled and was chased off by cold fear. “Terry went to the Mayor to complain? That asshole.”

“Yeah. So tomorrow morning me and Sky go to the Mayor’s house for an investigation.”

“Oh, my God.” She couldn’t help but grip his arm. “Sand.”

“I have to wear one of Sky’s suits.” He sounded disgusted.

“You’ll look wonderful,” she assured him. She shoved alarm away with a forced smile. “You’re handsome in jeans, but in a suit you’ll be devastating. I’ll help you get ready. At last, I’ll get to play with your hair!”

Sand gave her one quick kiss. “You can play with my hair—or any other part of me—anytime you want.”

She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. “You’re not playing fair, handsome.”

His finger and thumb touched her chin to tilt her face up. “I’ll do anything to convince you to accept my mate claim, but I don’t want to cheat.”

“You’re true blue,” she murmured, enjoying the warmth of his fingers on her chin.

He raised a brow in apparent confusion.

“You’re a straight forward, honest man,” she clarified. “You say what you mean and you mean what you say.”

“Yes,” he agreed simply. His fingertips trailed down her throat to stroke the swirl of the tattoo over her collarbone. “That’s the way we are in the Clan.”

“The Clan?”

“You don’t know about the Clan?” When she shook her head, he took her hand.” I should tell you about it. Come on, let’s sit down.”

They settled on her bed, shoulder to shoulder with their backs against the headboard. He held her hand on his knee, smoothing his thumb over her knuckles.

“You know I’m Lakota.”

Actually, she didn’t. He was clearly Native American, but she hadn’t known which tribe.

“For hundreds of years the Lakota lived on the plains, following the buffalo and setting up camp where the hunting was best. There were many different societies among the Lakota, and one of those was called the Wolf Clan.”

Amanda listened intently. She could see this was important to him.

“These were men who were born with the spirit of a wolf within them. Some of those wolves could force a change, so the man was inside the wolf and the wolf was free to run or hunt or sleep in his own four-footed body. They were called wolf-born. They were respected and feared as wolf warriors not just by other Lakota, but by all the tribes on the plains.”

“You’re wolf-born?”

“Yes, my family traces their history to the Wolf Clan. When the white men came, the wolves retreated. When we were forced onto the reservation, the wolves didn’t make the change any more. They stayed silent and alone inside men.” He bent his head and his thick long braid slithered like a wet snake over his shoulder to touch her arm. “After decades of living like prisoners, the wolves were only stories. The Wolf Clan kept the stories alive and passed them down, but by the time the terrorists set off the bombs and poisoned the water with disease, wolf warriors were only a myth, even to the Wolf Clan. My grandfather and others of the Wolf Clan left the reservation during the Terrible Times and after living free on the prairie again, the wolves came back. My Uncle Muddy Wolf was the first to have his wolf come out.”

Amanda couldn’t truly understand what it would have been like to have a family myth come true. “Was it scary?”

He squeezed her hand. “I guess it must have been. It was scary for me, the first time my wolf pushed his way out.”

She turned her head to look at him. “So the wolf isn’t you? You and the wolf aren’t the same person?”

He chuckled. “No, not at all.”

“What is it like when the wolf comes out?”

His profile was solemn. “Exciting. And…” He trailed off, apparently trying to find the right word. “Natural. I’m used to it now. I don’t know what my life would be like without the wolf. The first few times were scary. The wolf took control. He wanted to run and hunt and eat.” He tilted his face down to smile at her. “That’s what the wolf thinks of. Food, sleep, and protecting his den and pack. He’s not a human. He doesn’t think the way a man does. He’s a wolf, and he cares about the things that all wolves care about.”

“That’s so amazing. Can you talk to him? Like telepathy?”

He blinked. “I don’t know what telepathy is, but I can’t talk to him. I can feel him. Emotions, I mean. He can feel what I’m feeling, but I don’t think he understands all of it. He’s always there, like a shadow inside me.”

She tried to imagine what it would be like to have an alien presence inside her all the time, but couldn’t. “It —or do I mean, he?— must be really important to you.”

“Yeah, he is. Until you, my wolf was probably the most important thing in my life. My family is important to me too, and I love them, but they aren’t inside me. It’s kind of hard to explain. My wolf was the one thing I couldn’t live without. Until you.” He smiled almost bashfully. “Now there are two things I couldn’t live without: the wolf, and you.”

Amanda’s breath caught. For years she’d told herself she wanted a husband who couldn’t live without her. Words were only words, though. Time would have to prove whether he was just talking or if he truly meant it. She lifted a skeptical eyebrow. “Seriously? You’d die without me?”

He looked down at her fingers in his hand. “Seriously? My heart wouldn’t stop beating. My lungs would go on breathing. I know it’s been only a day, but already you are so much a part of my heart and mind that if you don’t accept my mate claim, my life will be empty.” He smiled at her, a crooked smile that showed off that one imperfect tooth. “I almost didn’t admit that. I don’t want you to accept me out of guilt or pity. The wolf doesn’t care why you accept me, only that you do.”

She made herself smile back, pretending her heart wasn’t beating fast. “And he’s the one who picked me?”

“Yeah.” He leaned his head down to brush a kiss over her hair. “The minute I first saw you, when you were getting on the bus, everything became clearer to me. The colors were sharper, the scents were stronger. Usually when the wolf is inside me I barely notice him, but at that minute he felt like he was dragging me closer to you, howling all the way.”

She pushed away from the headboard to kneel facing him. “Can I meet him?”

“Right now?”

“Yes!” She hesitated. “If you don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind.” He climbed off the bed and kicked his moccasins off. He stripped off his clothes with no sign of embarrassment. If nerves weren’t prickling under her skin at the thought of a wild wolf loose in her room she would have enjoyed the show.

The air surrounding the lean brown body shimmered, the way heat rising from hot summer pavement shimmered and distorted the view, and then Sand was gone. In his place stood a wolf. Amanda blinked at it, opened mouthed. Her stomach rotated and she had to grip handfuls of bedding to keep sitting up. Sky had told her last year that he had an inner wolf. She’d believed him, of course. She’d known Sky for seven years, and in that time he’d never lied to her. But seeing it was far different than hearing about it.

The wolf looked at her out of eyes that shone like liquid gold in the dense gray of his fur. A long pink tongue lolled out of the mouth in a sharp toothed canine grin.

“Oh!” Her breath came out in a squeak. “Hello.”

The wolf trotted to her and jumped up on the bed. She scrambled back so fast she hit her head on the headboard. The wolf hung his head and whined, for all the world like a little boy who’d been scolded. It made her feel ridiculously ashamed.

“Sorry. You, uh, kind of scared me there for a minute. Um. Hi.” She swallowed and stared into those alien eyes. “Sand? Are you there? Can you hear me?”

The wolf lay down with his muzzle on his extended front paws, eyes still fixed on her. He didn’t look one bit like Sand. But neither did he look aggressive or angry. She cautiously extended one hand to touch the top of his head. The fur was soft between his ears and coarser on his neck and back. Amanda stroked him with a sense of wonder. He seemed to enjoy it, arching his neck for her to reach a particular spot.

“So you’re the one who picked me for Sand. You’re a big, handsome fellow, aren’t you? Like Sand. I haven’t decided yet whether or not to accept him. He needs to meet my dad. My dad would never tell me who I can or can’t marry, but if my dad doesn’t like Sand, I can’t marry him.” She scratched behind the large pointed ears. “I like Sand. I was a little afraid of you. It’s kind of weird for me, you know? I mean, whoever knew that men could turn into wolves for real? But you wouldn’t hurt me. Would you, sweetie? I guess I should have asked Sand what your name is.”

The shimmer came again, and this time she was so close she felt the change happen. A wave of heat nearly burned her hand, and instead of stroking rough fur she was caressing a bare brown shoulder. She jerked her hand away.

“He doesn’t have a name,” Sand told her. He was lying face down beside her, his cheek pressed to her thigh, his eyes looking up at her the way the wolf’s had. “He’s a wolf.”