Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
SASHA
Ibarely had a chance to ask Fitch about being a bear shifter. He and the rest of the deputies had been busy searching for the lake suspect.
It’s nice to know my secretarial skills have come in handy. I have the office running like a well-oiled machine. The officers love not having to do extra work.
It’s Friday night and I think a couple of drinks is a nice way to start the weekend. Who knows, I might even go to the local club tomorrow night. Just to unwind and forget about all the shit that has gone wrong in my life back home.
I saunter inside. The smell of varnish, peanuts, and cigarette smoke hit my nose as I approach the bar.
A loud yell startles me from behind. I peek over my shoulder. Fitch and Sanchez are shooting pool. I smile. I should join them. There are a handful of people sitting at the bar. And most of the tables are filled.
“What can I get you?” The female bartender asks.
“I’ll take a light rum with lemon and lime soda.”
“Coming right up.”
“Sasha,” Fitch yells.
I smile and wave.
“Come join us,” Fitch motions me over.
“No, Sasha, come sit here, now.”
This motherfucker and his alpha bark is really setting me off. I hear him but don’t see him. I follow his tantalizing scent: The forest floor is sharper now, dark, and heavy—evoking damp earth and pine needles.
The bartender places the drink in front of me. I reach into my purse to grab my debit card.
“The sheriff paid for it.”
I nod, then mosey further down the bar, and the sheriff comes into view. He’s nursing a whiskey neat.
He slaps his big palm on the bar stool beside him twice. I take in his black t-shirt that’s tight across his chest and around his muscled arms. The tattoos snaking up his arms only make me want to run my tongue along them.
He’s also wearing khaki shorts and black boots. I’d never seen him dressed down before. He looks sexy as fuck. I sink onto the red stool beside him.
“You only called me over here because you didn’t want me hanging with Fitch.”
He doesn’t answer me. His eyes move over the green mini dress I’m wearing.
“Stop eye-fucking me, sheriff.”
He leans into my ear. “Stop tempting my deputies.”
I chuckle. “You mean stop tempting you.”
He gulps down his whiskey. “I wanted to help you with your search. But we haven’t found this fucking suspect,” he growls.
I place a hand on his arm briefly. “Gavin, it’s okay.”
“It’s not. I’m trying to keep you safe. I mean, keep the people in my town safe.”
The alpha cares about me. Why?
“Do you have any leads?”
He sighs. “No. The victim still won’t give more information about the incident. She’s scared.”
The sheriff does the unthinkable. He slips his fingers through his hair, and I swear it is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. “We’ll catch the suspect, though.”
“You will.” I grin.
A beat of silence passes between us.
“How long have you been here?” I ask.
“About an hour.”
“How many drinks have you had?” I push.
“Maybe three.” A crooked grin lifts one side of his gorgeous mouth.
“I know you’re a guy. But slow down on the drinks.”
He gives a slow nod, and suddenly I notice my hand lingering on his arm. I pull it away as if his skin scorched me. Raising the glass, I take a sip, letting the warm rum sting its way down my throat.
“My best friend Jax says it’s time I start dating again.”
I’m shocked he opens up to me like this. I listen intently.
“I had a mate six years ago. She was a wolf shifter, too. She was killed.” He spins the empty glass on the bar.
“I asked Lily to bond. She said she couldn’t be tied to an alpha sheriff. My job was too dangerous. She rejected me. Not long after our breakup, she had settled down with another alpha. She was happier with him than she was with me.”
My hand returns to his muscled bicep. I caress his arm in a soothing manner.
“Nine months later, she was out on a run and was killed by campers in the next county over.”
I move my hand to his free one and squeeze. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” he says, his voice barely a whisper over the loud chatter in the bar.
“Gavin, Jax is right. It’s okay to move on.”
“And what about you?”
I lift a brow as I remove my hand from his. “What about me?”
“When will you move on?”
“I don’t know,” I blow out a breath. “Carson said I was his everything and couldn’t see life without me. Then he fucked my assistant behind my back.”
Gavin’s green eyes darken. “I want to kill that asshole.”
“I felt like that for a while. The anger I felt was eating me alive. I had to move on with my life. Only problem, I guess you can say I closed my heart to love. If I ever give another man a chance, he won’t be a narcissist. Having to stroke a man’s ego twenty-four seven is exhausting.”
His big hand strokes my thigh. “You deserve a man who really sees you and worships you.”
“Look at you, Mr. Boss man, giving excellent advice.”
“Hey you two,” Fitch says as he approaches.
Gavin doesn’t remove his hand from my hot skin. My skin is on fucking fire because he’s touching me. Now my heart is racing a mile a minute.
Fitch palms Gavins shoulder and curls an arm around my neck.
My psycho boss flashes his wolf eyes at the bear.
“Chill boss. I just wanted to check on you.”
“You can check on me without putting your hands on Sasha.”
Fitch removes his hand, chuckling. He orders another round of drinks.
I interject and tell the bartender. “The sheriff will take water instead of whiskey, please.”
“Coming right up,” she announces.
“Sasha, you don’t think I can handle my liquor?” he slurs.
“I don’t want you to say something you’ll regret tomorrow.”
He lifts the glass of water and nods.
For the next thirty minutes, the three of us chat about everything from Everett and Breann to how the sheriff makes Fitch wash the patrol cars everyday.
“Sheriff, I can drive you home,” Fitch offers.
“No, I got him. Just put him in my car.”
Fitch flashes a knowing smirk my way.
“Sheriff, it’s time to go.” Fitch helps Gavin to his feet.
I think about what my best friend said. Don’t work your mojo on the sheriff.
I smile at the patrons staring at me and Fitch, who has the sheriff’s big arm draped over his shoulder.
Once he gets Gavin into the passenger seat of my car, he takes my phone and enters Gavin’s address into the map app.
“Good night, Sasha.”
“Good night, Fitch.”
Halfway down the road, I peek over at the big guy in the passenger seat of the Mercedes rental car. Eyes closed, his head lulls to the side, resting against the window. He looks so peaceful.
The map says his cabin is twenty minutes away. Once I get him home, I’ll put him in bed and go on about my way.
I pull up outside his cabin and smile. The two-story mahogany cabin is beautiful. I dig into his pocket and remove his keys.
“Wake up, Gavin. You’re home.”
His eyes pop open and he opens the door. I exit the car and my black stilettos carry me quickly to the passenger door.
Bright lights pop on around the property.
“Can you walk?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” he replies.
I put his big arm over my shoulder, anyway. We probably look like a circus act. Because I’m five-four and he’s six-five. He’s practically leaning over to one side. His nose is in my hair and he inhales me.
“I only smell coconut. Is that your scent?”
I laugh as I unlock the door.
“No, I’m on scent suppressants.”
Once inside, I flip on the lights. The smell of rich leather wafts up my nostrils.
Big brown leather furniture fills the living room.
“I love your home.”
“Thanks. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Gavin, I’m leaving. I just wanted to get you home safely.”
He chuckles as he removes my purse from my arm and the keys from my hand. He tosses the keys onto the brown credenza near the door and places my purse on the big leather chair.
He’s towering over me now and toys with one of my braids.
“Stay with me tonight,” he says in a sexy, deep voice.
“I’ll get you tucked in. Then I’m leaving.”
“I’m thirsty. What would you like to drink?” He asks.
“I’ll get us drinks,” I say.
“I’m going to the bathroom.” He disappears in the back of the house.
I turn on the light switch, and his custom gourmet kitchen comes into view. I step to the sink built into the brown and white marble countertop.
I didn’t think sheriffs made a lot of money. How can he afford a home like this?
Forget about his custom home.
“Give him the glass of water and be on your way,” I mutter.
“My cock is hard as steel,” he yells out.
Don’t take advantage of this man. I won’t fuck him.
No pussy magic. I turn to the counter behind me.
There’s four bottles of whiskey, all top shelf.
I notice the glass tumblers and shot glasses.
I reach for one of the whiskey bottles and pick up a shot glass.
I fill the shot glass and toss it back. My eyes squeeze shut like I just sucked down a sour lemon.
Whiskey is not my drink of choice. I cap the whiskey bottle and place the empty shot glass in the sink.
Taking a deep breath, I pick up the glass of water and stroll to the back of the cabin.
I halt in the hallway as he exits the bathroom. His huge dick stands at attention through his shorts.
“I’m leaving.” The last thing I want to do is leave.
He takes the glass from my grip, reaches for my hand and places my palm under his shirt on his abs.
“Fuck,” I utter.
Gavin gulps down the water while his hungry gaze remains on me. Now holding the glass eye level, he takes my hand, pulling me into his bedroom.
The smell of vanilla hits my nostrils.
“Gavin, sit on the bed so I can take your shoes off,” I order.
He places the half-empty glass on the dresser. Then his big palms grip my face. “You drive me insane.”
I don’t say a word. Just stare up at him.
Gavin’s eyes move over my lips. “Every night, I dream about what you taste like.”
His lips take mine in a hungry, passionate kiss, and his big hands palms my ass.
My hands forget that we’re not taking advantage of this man.
My wolf shifter.
Gripping his t-shirt, I press my lips hard against his, inhaling his minty toothpaste and forest floor scent.