Once both of them had realised they shared the shifter gene, they had become fast friends.
Becca knew that Nikki still took assignments all over even though she had mated. That was just the way Nikki was. She liked what she did. Becca preferred to be home. It was one of the few things they didn’t have in common.
Of course, the last time Becca had taken a job out of the country was when her friend had her mating ceremony. Becca had hated to miss it but Nikki had understood.
Now that she’d met Mike, Becca had more of a reason to regret not being able to attend. Mike was one of Nikki’s mate’s best friends.
It really was a small world when you thought about it—the connections that drew people together.
The connection that helped to keep the shifter communities thriving even with the threats coming at them now.
Becca pulled jeans and a T-shirt out of her drawers and hurried to the shower. There was something she wanted to do first before she dealt with anything else.
She took a quick shower and dressed then managed to get out of the bedroom and downstairs without running into anyone. She avoided the kitchen, knowing that was where most people would be, slipped out of the door in the den and quickly made her way towards the woods.
She wasn’t quiet once outside in order to let anyone out know she was coming. If Kurt and his friends were staying in the area, she knew just where to find him.
She passed the creek and went further north. Before she got to the old hangout, she heard movement.
Kurt walked towards her and she paused to let him finish closing the distance. He smiled at her but nervously shoved his hands in his jeans. He wasn’t wearing a shirt or shoes.
He was more attractive now he’d aged, with tanned firm skin and a muscular body. But she was also relieved when she didn’t feel the same stirring inside at the sight of him half naked. She was truly over him.
“Hey, Becca,” he greeted.
She nodded. “You got a minute to talk?”
He motioned towards a pile of rocks they could sit on. She led the way and took a seat. Once he was beside her, she turned to face her old friend.
“I’m sorry, Becca. I should have told you I was back. That I was helping,” he started.
She held up a hand to stop him. “No, Kurt. You’ve apologised enough. It’s my turn.”
He jerked back. “What? No.”
“Yes,” she sighed. This was harder than she thought. “I was mad at you for a long time. I blamed you for leaving me.”
“I did,” he interrupted.
“No,” she corrected. “I let you go. You were right that night when you asked if I was one hundred per cent sure I was ready to settle down for the rest of my life. If I felt it in my bones that we were meant to be together forever. You knew.”
His shoulders slumped. “I only ever wanted what was best for you.”
“I know that.” She laughed. “Well, I know that now anyway.” She looked at him—really looked at her ex-lover and friend. He’d changed but remained the same honest man. He had laugh lines around his eyes. The blue colour still sparkled. Even with several days of not shaving and staying out in the woods he looked great. But he wasn’t what she wanted anymore.
“It took a lot of guts to come to me and end things. To follow your path and not give in to what everyone else thought was best. I’ll always be grateful to you for being able to do that.”
Kurt rubbed his hands over his knees. “Is this where you tell me you don’t love me anymore? That you’re happy with Mike?” he asked quietly.
Becca reached for one of his hands. She threaded her fingers through his. “No, I’ll always love you. That won’t change. I told Mike the same last night. And as far as what I feel about Mike?” She shrugged. “I don’t know where that will go. I enjoy him. Like being with him. But it’s new and right in the middle of the most difficult thing I’ve ever faced. Only time will tell. But I’m glad I have the chance to see what will happen.”
Kurt cupped her cheek with his free hand. “Tell me you’re happy.”
Becca turned her head and kissed his wrist. “I am. I really am. And I think you are too. But I want you to do something for me.”
Kurt dropped his hand and nodded. “Anything.”
“Stop staying away. After this is over, come home every once in a while. Your brother misses you, the Pack misses you and I miss you.”
“You mean that?” he asked quickly. “I don’t want to upset you.”
“Kurt, I never wanted you to stay away. This is your Pack too. You belong here. When you’re ready, I want you to visit. I want to be friends. Real friends.”
Kurt squeezed her hand. “I want that too.”
* * * *
Mike stepped out of the kitchen door into the bright morning sun. He saw Becca walk out of the coverage of the trees and smiled. He had opened his eyes in hopes of continuing where they had left off the night before when they had collapsed, spent and tired. But he’d woken alone.
He’d hid his disappointment at her disappearance while he enjoyed his breakfast of fresh baked bread, eggs and ham. While eating, he’d received the news that no one had been able to find Owen. He hadn’t been seen him since before the fire last night.
Mike had left a message for Brandon at the office and had also tried RJ but neither of them answered. His day had not started well.
But being able to take in the beautiful view of Becca heading towards him? Things were looking up.
She hadn’t noticed him yet and he took the opportunity to watch her. She bounced a little as she walked, obviously happy as she made her way back to the house.
He took the porch deck steps down and when she caught sight of him her grin grew. And that went straight to his heart.
She met him in the middle of the yard and threw her arms around his neck. “What a great morning!”
He laughed. “Your house burned down last night.”
She dropped back on her heels. “Oh yeah. Well, today started out better than yesterday so that’s something.”
He gave her a quick peck on the mouth. “Keep that thought.”
This time she frowned and withdrew her arms. “What happened?”
“Owen’s gone,” he explained.
“Damn,” she muttered. “Okay, well, he couldn’t have gone far. We’ll find him.”
“I left a message with a buddy of mine. He’s great at tracking. If we don’t find him soon, I want him to come down and help.” He slung his arm around her neck and started to lead her back to the house. “And where did you disappear to this morning?”
She stopped and turned to face him. “I went and talked to Kurt.”
Mike jerked back. Normally he would have had better control of himself but after their confessions the night before he hadn’t thought Becca would leave his bed to see her ex.
She grabbed his arms and pushed him to the side of the house. “Really? After everything that was said last night, you’re going to doubt my intentions?”
He opened his mouth to deny her accusation but she waved a hand. “What am I thinking? You’re a man!”
Mike nodded his head. He was a man but that was not what left him speechless. Oh no. The sight of Becca fuming before him was hot.
She smacked his shoulder. “I told you last night that I’d never really told Kurt that he was right. I didn’t want to start a relationship with you with that still hanging over our heads.”
Her eyes sparkled as she braced her feet shoulder length apart and fisted her hands on her hips. “Well? Don’t you have anything to say?”
He licked his lips. “God, I could fall in love with you.”
Well shit, that wasn’t what he’d meant to say.
Her expression softened. “I know. That’s why I had to talk to Kurt.”
Mike reached for her and she let him wrap his arms around her and pull her close. “I don’t care that you went and talked to your ex. I was just surprised. And maybe a little disappointed.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Disappointed?”
“Yeah,” he whispered as he ran his tongue down her neck. “I was looking forward to waking up with you in my arms.”
She sagged in his hold and tilted her head back to give him better access. “Well…”
Turning them, Mike pressed her against the brick of the main house. He pressed close so she could feel his erection and rubbed himself over her.
“Mmm.” She shuddered. “That…that would have been nice.”
“Nice?” he growled. “I think we can do better than nice.”
He lifted her up with hands on her hips so she was trapped between the wall and his body. She wrapped her legs around his waist while yanking at his shirt.
“Skin,” she demanded. “I want your skin.”
He helped her and pulled the shirt over his head, before dropping it to the grass. He rocked forward, drawing out a low long moan from her. “Here, baby? You want me to take you here when anyone can come up on us?”
He wasn’t opposed to the idea. After all, their first night in the woods had been extremely erotic. The cool night air, the chance of exposure, the smell of nature.
But this wasn’t the same. This was her home.
“I want you,” she exclaimed. “Yes, here, now.”
No one could have said no to that. “Pull your shirt up,” he ordered.
He positioned his hands to get a better hold on her. Becca lifted the hem of her shirt and unclasped her bra.
“Give me your breasts.”
Cupping herself, she tilted forward. He licked her pert nipple before drawing the nub into his mouth. She arched and cried out.
God, he loved the sounds she made.
Nuzzling and sucking, he treated her other tit to the same treatment. Didn’t stop until she was panting.
“I need you,” she declared huskily.
He gently lowered her legs to the ground making sure she was steady. Her shirt came off, her bra hung off one shoulder, and he was already working on her jeans.
He shoved her pants past her knees and helped her fall forward onto the grass. On her hands and knees, she made a picture. He stood above her and lowered his zipper.
“Fuck, baby, you are so hot. I’m gonna fill you. Take you so hard. You’re going to be screaming my name,” he promised.
She nodded vigorously. “Yes, please.”
He shoved his own jeans and boxers down before dropping to cover her body with his. He used his fingers to make sure she was ready, slipping two digits inside. She rocked back against him.
He removed his hand and positioned the head of his cock at her entrance. “Ready?”
He had meant to tease her. Instead she slammed herself back and took him in on one motion. Her inner muscles squeezed his cock. He gripped her hips and groaned. He loved being inside her.
“Now fuck me like you mean it,” she ordered.
Mike drew back before slamming in again. “Demanding little thing,” he huffed out but his laugh was strained.
He rode her hard, thrusting into her. Becca urged him on, calling out “faster” and a string of yeses.
Her body tightened around him as her muscles clamped down. He dropped his mouth to her shoulder and bit down as his seed pumped from his cock and released inside her.
They collapsed onto the moist grass and she started to giggle.
The happy sound made a chuckle escape him. He shifted off her and lay on his back, utterly exhausted. She propped up on an elbow.
“Now that was worth waiting for,” she told him with a wink.
He shook his head. The damn female was going to kill him.
Chapter Eight
By the time she and Mike had been able to sneak back into the house, shower together, and dress for the second time, Becca’s blood was humming.
She could feel the aggravation coming from Mike as he checked his phone for the tenth time in five minutes.
She walked over to him and threw her arms around his neck. “They’ll call,” she told him.
He nodded but was still frowning. “I just don’t like being kept in the dark. We can’t depend on the investigators. We don’t know who Owen is working with.”
“You mean you think other members of the Pack could be involved?” she asked, although she really didn’t want to. Wasn’t it bad enough that it looked like even one member of the Pack was involved? To have other members involved? God, that betrayal hit deep.
“I’m sorry,” Mike told her, cupping her cheek and placing a kiss on her forehead. “We have to look to see who he is involved with. We have to make sure.”
Becca pulled away and walked over to the window. She pushed the curtain back and gazed out onto her property, the territory she had grown up in. “Why? Why would they do this?”
Mike wrapped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed tight. “I don’t know. Some people are just evil.”
She sighed. Could it be that simple? Just evil in the world? There had to be more to it than just that, didn’t there?
“Why our Pack?” she questioned. She knew that Mike didn’t have the answers but she needed to voice the question anyway.
“I don’t know. But we will find out,” he promised.
She leant back into his hold. “Thank you.”
He kissed the back of her head. “Let’s go down and get to work then.”
She gladly twined her fingers with his. He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. The gesture was sweet and she felt like the luckiest girl in the world. They walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs. Her dad’s office door was open and she could hear voices.
Mike led her in that direction. She didn’t let go of his hand as they reached the door. Mike glanced over at her and she shrugged. It wasn’t like they had to hide their relationship.
She knocked on the open door and went inside. Her dad stood talking with Eric and Kenny. He smiled at her when they entered the office.
She released her hold on Mike and walked over to her dad. He opened his arms and she hugged him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she buried her face in his chest.
He embraced her and rocked just a little. Peace settled over her. She was reminded how strong her father was. She tipped her head back. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “No, baby, you don’t have to apologise,” he said and glanced over at Mike. “I should have told you. I thought about it several times.” He dropped his voice. “When I saw your attraction to Mike, I knew I couldn’t. If you had known Kurt was back would you have been able to get to know Mike?”