Already Freakn' Mated (24 page)

Later, collapsed on the floor, cuddled in his arms, in a pile of clean bedding they salvaged, she giggled and he asked, “What’s so funny?”

“I thought getting the dust off that stupid glass table was annoying. But ass print?” Their laughter rang loud and beautiful.

This was freedom. This was worth fighting for.

*

Over in the Rocky Mountains…

The compound secured, the guards taken care of and the prisoners released, Sheng finally shifted back to his human shape and took the pants someone handed him, but not before he covered Gina in a long shirt that did more to display her assets than he liked.

Thank God it worked. He’d initially balked at the plan to return to Kaleb’s stronghold. His first instinct not fear for himself, but for Gina. Sure, as a cop her first instinct would probably involve saving the victims, but Sheng had a duty to keep his woman safe. But as Chris and his brother’s so eloquently put it, “If you tell her no, she’s going to do it just to prove you wrong. And kick you in the balls for good measure.”

All was well that ended well though. Kaleb had finally met justice. Sheng no longer needed to fear, capture at any rate. His new family on the other hand though…

“Just how many people stayed behind in case Kaleb tried something sneaky?” Sheng asked.

“A couple handfuls. Mom thought Kaleb might not leave so easily. The gang following on the second charter knew for certain when the plane they followed landed for no apparent reason and took off again,” Stu replied.

Peering around at the groups of tall men, the stench of wolf overpowering, Sheng made sure to mutter in a voice only Gina could hear, “Exactly how big is your family?”

The laughter wasn’t what he’d call reassuring, but he forgave it because of the kiss that followed. Despite the sure craziness of the future, for better and better – because he’d already lived with worst – he would have his freedom, this woman, and a shitload of wolves to torment.

“Are you purring again?” she asked.

“Yeah. You got a problem with that?” If she called him a cute kitten again…

“Um, I think I saw an empty office over there. Care to put that rumble to good use?” She arched a brow.

And that quickly, they lost the crowd, he pounded between her thighs, and thanked the gods he owned nine lives because it felt like he died each time he came in her arms.

The Christmas celebration rocked the house while music about Santa ho-ho-ing, jingled, and lights twinkled. Garish decoration abounded with every cliché known to mankind displayed from snowmen, to mangers, to a little village of penguins dressed in pointy red hats. God she loved it. Loved the chaos, and noise, the goodwill and food.

Jiao maneuvered through the bodies, all shifters and mostly wolves given Chris’s family predominated the place. But she did catch the occasional whiff of cat as Javier and Alejandro, accompanying their mates, mingled as well, their swarthier tones offsetting that of the predominantly Caucasian crowd.

A handsome fellow, someone she’d not met before, bumped into her. His eyes lit with interest. “Well hello there, cutie. You must be new. I’m Joel.”

An arm curled around her waist possessively, and Chris growled. “She’s already freakn’ mated, Joel, so go pour the charm on someone else.”

“No. Not you too?” Joel’s eyes widened in mock horror. “Another good man bites the dust.”

“Ha. Ha. Funny man. Just wait. One day, it will happen to you.”

“Perish the thought.” Joel shuddered.

“Perish what?” Kendrick asked coming up alongside them.

“I was just hoping Joel would meet the mate of his nightmares,” Chris joked.

Kendrick snorted. “Might be kind of hard where we’re going. All male, jungle expedition. We leave Boxing Day for the Amazon. We’re supposed to bring some supplies to a shifter group out in the boonies.”

“Why all male?” Jiao asked.

“The clan we’re going to find is very patriarchal to the point any unbound woman is free game, human or shifter. Even mated females aren’t safe if one of their warriors take a fancy.”

Chris laughed. “Maybe you’ll meet the warrior of your dreams then, Joel.”

Jiao felt the impact of the blow through her mate’s body. She hissed at the cause and Chris tightened his arm. “Now you’ve done it. You made my wife angry.”

“She gonna beat me up?” Joel taunted.

“Not her. Me.”

Joel whirled as someone tapped his shoulder. Seconds later, he groaned on the floor while Sheng looked down on him. “No one upsets my sister,” he announced. With a nod in Chris and Jiao’s direction, Sheng placed his arm around Gina’s waist possessively and moved away.

“I am liking your brother more and more,” Chris said with a grin.

“And I think he likes you too.” Or so she guessed amidst Shengs glower’s and taunts asking if Chris wanted a Milkbone for dessert. While Sheng might have given Jiao her freedom, and put her safekeeping in Chris’s hands, he still played an active role in their lives. A very active one, but as Gina confided to Jiao, “He trusts Chris to protect you. But old habits die hard. Just wait until you have kids.”

Jiao couldn’t wait, but judging by the way Sheng hovered over his mate, and how Gina powered down the little sausages wrapped in pastry, Jiao already lost that race, and she couldn’t be happier. Not just because of a possible niece or nephew to spoil. It warmed her through and through to see her brother in love, smiling, and happy. So freakn’ happy, tears made her blink.

“Hey none of that,” Chris whispered.

“Tears of joy,” she sniffed.

“Oh, and here I thought they were because mom burned the sugar pie.” Chris looked so woebegone, she giggled.

“I love you.”

“I love you more.”

“Someone kill me now,” Stu choked.

“Right on it,” Kendrick hollered.

“Don’t you dare,” Meredith warned.

“Put down the cranberry sauce,” yelled some aunt.

“I’ll save the pie!” Chris yelled.

“Too late. I ate it,” Geoffrey, her new father in law, taunted.

Chaos erupted, her mate in the middle of it. Jiao sighed with happiness.

Wasn’t family grand?

(The End…only of this story)

Stayed tuned for the next Freakn’ Shifter
s
tory,
Human and Freakn’
,
coming this December to an online store near you.