Shifting Winds (Shifter Lords #4)

Chapter 1

Chapter

One

Astrong, warm hand pressed against my abdomen, the rest of my body pressed against a hard chest. Hair tangled in my face, hiding the crimson glow of my cheeks when I remembered where I was.

And who I was pressed against.

A warm nose nudged the crook of my neck, followed by a hot kiss pressed against my shoulder blade. I arched against Caelan, his wicked chuckle ruffling my messy hair.

“I can feel you overthinking,” he murmured against my skin.

We lay entangled in each other like vines, one of his heavy legs tossed over me. I was trapped but felt safer than I ever had. We’d been doing this for two months now, going back and forth to each other’s homes, spending the night in each other’s arms, and doing other more pleasurable things.

I’d fallen head over heels for him, and Caelan made no secret of how he felt about me. To him, I was his Lady, no matter there was no bond or ceremony or anything tying us together other than his actions. I shifted in his arms, turning so I could face him.

Large hands wrapped around my hips. All the stress and tension from the last few months had fallen away; his gray and golden eyes relaxed and languid, the haze of sleep still there. His full lips curled in a soft smile as he raised a hand to brush a stray strand of hair from my face.

“Beautiful,” he murmured.

I shook my head, wishing he could see himself the way I saw him. “You,” I whispered. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

My words were true and heartfelt and dangerous. I pressed a kiss against his lips. “And,” I said, gently pushing his hands away, “I have to get to work before the others vote to fire me.”

Caelan groaned. “You’re the entire operation, and we all know none of them would fire you. They technically can’t.”

“True.” I wiggled from his grasp, laughing when Caelan’s eyes lit up with interest. “But they can make me feel guilty about it. I’ve been taking too many vacation days, and we have events coming up.”

The weight of responsibility the Shifter Lord carried each day had fallen away sometime over the last few weeks, allowing me to see the real man behind the tightly leashed violence. And that had been my death knell. I’d fallen head over heels for him once he let his mask fall away.

I was in big trouble.

With a groan, he released me, watching with glowing eyes as I snatched up his shirt from the chair and tugged it over my head. His eyes stayed on me until I stumbled into the bathroom and locked the door.

Pressed against the door, I squeezed my eyes shut and let out a slow breath.

I had to figure this out. In no way, shape, or form was I equipped to rule over Caelan’s wolves with him, and they didn’t want me to.

I could taste the hostility in the air anytime I was in the main part of the Keep.

The only person who didn’t want to eat me was Simone.

But even she had her doubts. I could see them when she thought I wasn’t watching. Simone might be my friend, but her loyalty was to Caelan.

Not the woman he was sleeping with.

Some of the wolves were on board with me, but I’d put it at twenty-five percent. The other seventy-five were wary. With good reason.

I tugged on my underwear and the pants I found hanging over the shower rod, but my shirt was nowhere to be seen. After a quick face wash and a mouth rinse, I tried to do something about my hair but gave up when I realized it was hopeless.

Caelan was up and wearing pants when I came out, sitting shirtless on the edge of the bed, eyes glowing when he saw me.

A predator lurked in those eyes, a hunger for me that both warmed me and terrified me.

“Some of the pack refer to you as Lady,” he said quietly.

“I’d like to make it official at the next gathering. ”

I swallowed hard. He’d voiced his intentions that night I’d killed Finn and Rhona, but that was not the same as a formal mating and bonding ceremony. Those would solidify my place in Caelan’s Keep and his Pack.

“I want you beside me, Evie. Always.” His voice was low and soft and so sure.

Wonderful, beautiful words I always wanted to hear. The problem being I was an internal bundle of nerves. “It’s only been a little while. We have plenty of time before we make any formal decisions.” I smiled. “Besides, another pretty little wolf might catch your eye.”

Power punched through the room. “The only person catching my eye is you. The moment you delivered that automaton to my Keep is the moment I knew I’d have you.” He tilted his head and studied me. “Unless you don’t want me. Is that it, Evangeline? Has another man or wolf caught your eye?”

I snorted, but when his power didn’t let up, I froze. “Caelan. How can you ask me that? I haven’t warmed anyone’s bed in the seven years I’ve been here. Now you think I’m on the prowl?”

He rose, stalking toward me. I stood stock still, admiring his lethal grace and the play of muscles in his lean chest. Caelan planted his hands on either side of my head. I took a step back, my shoulders bumping into the wall.

“I don’t share, flower girl.”

I blinked up at him. “I didn’t ask you to.”

He bent his head, nipping at my neck. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I wheezed, his touch making my brain scramble.

“Don’t lie to me.” He tipped my chin up.

Our eyes met. “I don’t want to,” I whispered.

His brows furrowed. “Then don’t.”

I placed my hands on either side of his face, stroking my thumbs across the five o’clock shadow on his jaw. “I need more time. That’s all.”

He closed his eyes and inhaled. I braced for an argument, surprised when Caelan relaxed and nodded. “Fine. You are not used to a shifter’s ways, and I know I’ve been…pushy.”

My jaw dropped. “Er. Seriously?” Caelan was rarely this agreeable unless I was agreeing to something he wanted.

His face creased in a smile. “So disbelieving.”

“Experience,” I said and pressed one more kiss to his lips. “As wonderful as this is, I’m late.”

Ducking under his arm, I scrambled for my shoes. “Can I borrow your shirt? I can’t find mine.”

“Everything I have is yours.”

I stilled, the growly sound of his voice doing funny things to my insides. “I’ll wash it and get it back to you.”

“Keep it.”

I glanced up at him from my crouch. My mouth went dry as my eyes went up, up, up, hitching and stalling on the golden beauty of his honed chest. Dear gods. The man was pretty.

“Keep looking at me like that, and you won’t be at work until tomorrow.”

I blinked, cheeks heating, and looked down. “Sorry.”

He crouched down beside me, pressing my hands between his. “Again, do not apologize for staring at me like I’m dinner.”

Caelan went to his knees and snagged my other sandal from far underneath the bed, waving me away when I reached for it. “Sit,” he commanded.

I plopped onto my rear and wiggled my foot at him.

Caelan grinned and took my foot in his large hands, pressing his thumb against the middle and sending a delicious ache through the arch. “Mmm,” I groaned.

He chuckled. “If you come back tonight, I’ll show you more of these magic fingers.”

Caelan gripped my ankle and fastened my sandals, first on the left, then on the right.

“My greenhouse and land need tending.”

He rose and held out a hand to help me up. “Then I’ll come to you.”

I froze. Caelan, ever observant, slowly nodded. “Time. Right.”

The Shifter Lord held out his arm. “I’ll walk you out.”

We said nothing as he walked me to my car, and just when I was about to get inside, Caelan bent and nuzzled my neck. “You won’t escape me, Evangeline,” he murmured against my skin.

I couldn’t say a word. Caelan opened the door and waited until I buckled myself in before closing the door. He watched me until my vehicle was out of view.

That man was intense.