Caged Wolf (Wolves of Willow Bend Book 2) (12 page)

Cabin…
Recognition followed by profound relief swept the sleepiness from her mind. Dropping her face into her hands, she fought the need to weep.
A.J.
She was in Willow Bend. They’d gone to see Emma. Vivian remembered the visit, so why didn’t she remember returning?

Oh God…
Had she fugued while there? What had she said? After sliding out of the bed, she stood then froze. She’d been in clothes before, her clothes. Now she wore a t-shirt several sizes too large and nothing else.

Spinning, she stared at the bed. Only the impression of where she’d slept mussed the sheets. They weren’t rumpled or tangled. If she and A.J. had sex, she’d remember it, right?

The creak of the door alerted her and she turned. The wolf in question leaned against the door jamb, shirtless and in jeans. Stubble darkened the hollows of his face, but his eyes weren’t even close to human. Her pulse spiked at his arrival and a low, needy sensation threaded through her blood. Prison hadn’t been kind to him and, while he’d lost weight, it was a mistake to think he’d lost muscle. Everything about him was lean, corded, and strong.

“We didn’t have sex, did we?” She blurted out the question before her courage toppled.

Eyebrows raised, A.J. met her gaze and his blue eyes flashed from a deep gold, then back to normal in the space of two blinks. “No. I would never take advantage of you.”

God, she’d offended him. “No I know that I—I just thought I’d forgotten.” Then because relief and desire made for a potent combination, she admitted, “And I really didn’t want to have forgotten.”

The tautness in his jaw relaxed and his eyes softened. He crossed the room in three short strides to lay his hands on her shoulders. When he tugged her to him, she went willingly and wrapped her arms around him. His skin was hot to the touch, but the feeling of his muscles bunching in his back revealed more about his tension than anything else.

“I promise,” he whispered against her hair. “You’ll remember when we have sex.”

A thrill skated through her.
When, not if.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her cheek to his chest. The steady beat of his heart relaxed another wild spring of tension in her belly. While the bed had been too warm, he was even hotter and she wanted to be near his heat.

Some portion of her mind warned she shouldn’t let herself get too close. It wasn’t fair to let A.J. get attached to her—not when she could die soon or, worse, forget who she was. Who he was. Squeezing her eyes shut, she wished she could forget ever learning about her condition. Holding him, being held by him, elevated her from dragging the floor of life to heaven.

“I believe you,” she told him. Inhaling a lungful of his rich masculine scent, she sighed. The trembling inside stopped. For the first time in years, she didn’t feel every quiver of her muscles or the rapid pulse of her heart. The world ceased the madcap dash and slowed until only the feel of him and the way he cradled her filled her awareness. Coffee tickled her nose, sneaking past the earthy warmth of the wolf holding her, and her stomach growled.

“You’re hungry.” He didn’t sound remotely displeased by the idea.

“Starving.” For more than food, but food was a start. Most days she did well to choke down some yogurt or eat a sandwich, when she remembered to eat. “Do I smell steak?”

Indulgence deepened his voice. “Yes, and coffee. I wasn’t sure which you would prefer first.”

“I want everything.” Her words knocked around alone for a moment, then he chuckled and gave her a light squeeze.

“You can have whatever you want.” The sensuality in his tone was an intimate promise. Though he loosened his hold and she knew she could step away from him at any time, neither moved.

“I should probably get dressed.”

“Why?”

At the question, she raised her chin to meet his gaze. Amusement curved his mouth, but his eyes held a much more dangerous emotion. One she couldn’t define, yet it still managed to send her stomach fluttering. His lips parted and she couldn’t look away. She didn’t want to, either. He dipped his head, the world went into slow motion, then his mouth brushed hers and she forgot everything but the taste of him.

The kiss he gave her was lighter than the touch of a butterfly’s wings and over too soon. “You tempt me,” he said, his voice a husky baritone that had her toes curling against the rug. “But you need to eat.”

Her stomach growled, betraying her before she could make any protest. She wrinkled her nose. “I’d rather go hungry for food.” Because she starved for him. Such a strange sensation, since they’d known each other for such a short time before he’d been ripped away and she’d spent years…first trying to forget, then fighting to free him.

Eyes narrowed, A.J. nipped her lip and the faint sting shocked her. “You’re not going hungry anymore. Not for
anything
.”

Shuddering at the emphasis and the order, she nodded once. “You’re going to eat with me?”

“Oh, yes.” He turned, keeping one arm curved around her, and guided her toward the door. “We’re going to sit, eat, and then we can play. Healer’s orders.”

Really? Emma told them to play? What kind of a prescription was that? Almost too the door, she halted. “Are your brothers still here?”
Or anyone else, for that matter
. She’d had enough of strangers for one day, but Linc and Tyler were practically family.

Well, his family.

“No.” He squeezed her hip with a gentle hand. “Just the two of us, I promise. Though they might come back tomorrow.”

Was it possible to be thrilled and terrified in the same moment? “Good. You need to see your brothers.”

In the living room, he guided her over to the sofa before the stone fireplace where he’d built a small fire. No light peeked out around the corners of the drawn curtains. Enchanted by the cozy set up, she sat slowly. The fire wasn’t too hot, but the crackling wood helped create a soothing atmosphere.

“Cold?” he asked, drawing a blanket from the back of the sofa and laying it over her legs.

“Not at all.” If anything, she was in danger of heat stroke, but it had nothing to do with the temperature of the room.

He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing over her skin. “You seem to be feeling better.”

Oddly, she was. “A little groggy, but only a little.” Then, because she had to ask, “Did I pass out?”

“You fell asleep.” He chuckled and her world righted abruptly. “While we were at Emma’s. You didn’t even budge when I carried you out to the truck or on the drive back here.”

“You undressed me, right?” She already knew the answer, but his slow smile made it so worth asking the question.

“Yes.” Her heart flip-flopped like a fish on a hook, dangling visible for his inspection. “After I sent my brothers home.”

“Thank you.” She meant the words. “Course, I’m sorry you had to carry me.”

His earlier smile widened and then he laughed. The rustiness from earlier was absent, only genuine humor remained. “I’m not.” After one more caress, he circled the sofa and headed to the small kitchen.

Twisting, she tracked his movements with her gaze. “No?”

“No, I like taking care of you.”

“As long as I didn’t snore. Or drool. I can’t imagine how unattractive that would be.”

“Everything you do is attractive because it’s you.” The ease with which he made the statement echoed with sincerity. He picked up a tray and carried it back to the living room. From her vantage, she spotted the steaks she’d smelled earlier, and there were vegetables and a pair of baked potatoes.

“Where did you learn to cook?” She hadn’t tasted it yet, but her mouth watered.

“Prison. Though I won’t vouch for the quality there, these are good steaks. Ty brought them from Mom.” He set the tray down and passed over her plate before setting a mug near at hand. “Do you need anything for the coffee? I didn’t think about that before.”

“I like it black.”

He nodded, then glanced at her plate and to her, curiosity in his eyes. “Do you need anything else?”

Since he’d actually cut up her meat, split the baked potato and even brought butter for it, she shook her head. “Just you. You are going to join me right?”

“Of course.” He sat on the edge of the sofa, near enough that his thigh brushed her legs and she adjusted so she could tuck her feet against him. “Test your food first. If it’s not good enough, I’ll run into Willow Bend and get you something else.”

Willow Bend was close, but it wasn’t
that
close. Her skepticism must have shown because he grinned.

“Wolf.”

“Oh. Right.” She knew that, but he was also just A.J. “I’m sure it will be fine.” Spearing a piece of steak, she had to smile. He’d cooked it to medium, so it was plenty pink and hot. The smell was divine and the taste? She chewed her bite and sighed.
Oh. God.
When was the last time food tasted this good?

Like, never.

When she opened her eyes, she found A.J. studying her. “Do that again.”

“Do what?”

“Take another bite.” The order running beneath the sentence electrified her.

More than willing to obey, she speared a second bite and chewed it with even greater enthusiasm than the first. Her stomach protested the length of time she chewed, but she truly wanted to savor the experience. Without meaning to, she’d closed her eyes again, but found A.J. still watching when she finished. “Happy?”

“Oh yeah.” Pleasure coursed through her at his husky declaration. “You moaned when you took that first bite, then again on the second.”

Embarrassment flooded her. Thankfully, A.J. dug into his own food and was too busy to notice. Or maybe he’d simply been polite. Three pieces of steak later and she didn’t care about blush or the sounds she made, the meal was that good. Unfortunately, she couldn’t eat more than a third of what he’d put on her plate, but she tried.

In no time at all, he’d finished his portion and she offered him the rest of hers. Refusal hardened his face, so she speared a piece of steak and held it out to him invitingly. He accepted it and never once looked away while he chewed. Bite by bite, she fed him the rest of her meal, captivated by his intensity as he ate. Soon, both plates were clean and he carried the dishes into the kitchen. She curled up with her coffee, watching him over the rim of the mug as she sipped.

The ease of being in the cabin, of eating a whole meal while dressed in nothing but his t-shirt and her panties was equal parts alien and yet strangely familiar. It was his shirt, too. She realized that about halfway through the meal. He wore jeans and no shirt because he’d literally taken the shirt off his back and put it on her.

It smelled like him. Surrounded by the evidence of his caring, she basked in the first sense of peace she’d ever experienced and yet she hungered for more.

No, not more.
She glanced back at him cleaning up, aware that his attention remained zeroed in on her.
Him. I want him.

“You keep looking at me like that and our evening is going to very quickly relocate to the other room.”

The sensual promise smashed what was left of her inhibitions. After setting the mug down and pushing the blanket aside, she stood and faced him. Not giving herself any time to think, reconsider, or worry, she grasped the hem of his shirt. She pulled it over her head then held it out him. Despite the fire, the air was cool on her breasts and the low ache she’d experienced since seeing him again turned into a full blown need.

He froze, his gazed locked on her face. “Vivian…”

“I missed you,” she whispered. “And I have no problems with relocating to the other room.” He moved so swiftly, she’d barely finished the sentence. Then she was in his arms, her feet never touching the floor as he carried her back to the bed.

“Are you sure?” The question came out hoarse and rough, but he stood right at the edge of the bed. She knew without a shadow of a doubt if she said no, he’d put her down and they’d go back to what they’d been doing.

Her heart was light when she said, “Absolutely.”

Thank God he needed no further encouragement. His mouth slanted over hers and the world slid away leaving only the two of them.

Finally.

Chapter Eight

From the moment he’d left Emma’s, A.J. had a plan. Coax Vivian into becoming a wolf. Yes, he had to get Mason’s permission and he’d have to decide which of his brothers to ask. It had been so long since he’d shifted, he wasn’t sure his wolf was still there no matter what Emma said. However, deciding between Linc and Ty could wait, Vivian’s consent was what he needed first.

The transition from human to wolf wasn’t undertaken every day and he only had a passing amount of knowledge on the process. So he’d called the one person he trusted to give him a straight answer without them rushing to Mason and reveal his plans.

He’d called his mother.

Claudia Buckley went silent for a long time when he’d asked. So silent that, had A.J. not still heard the faint sound of her breathing on the other end of the phone, he would have been convinced she’d disconnected the call. “Mom?”

“I’m thinking. I’ll call you back.” Then she hung up on him. The terse response harkened back to his childhood when he or his brothers asked a question she didn’t
want
to answer. More often than not, she needed time to consider the words she would use to explain a difficult concept. She’d reacted the same for topics like Mason going Lone Wolf or what schools he and his brothers should consider for college.

Sex had been in the mix at one point, though Claudia had never answered the question directly. No, she’d sent their father to take them out and have a long talk on the process and the implications. The only advice she’d ever given A.J.  on the subject was to think of the woman he took to bed before he took her there. To mean what he wanted and to put her first. If he could do that, he could do anything. At the time, he’d been too young to comprehend her meaning.

Yet the moment he’d seen Vivian standing next to the bed, sleep rumpled, confused, and blanketed in a mixture of worry and arousal, his mother’s words rang like a clarion call inside of him.