Chapter 6 Roscoe
SIX
ROSCOE
We'd been working on the barn construction for most of the morning, and I couldn’t concentrate on anything other than Reed. My skin sizzled when he came near even though it was December and might snow later.
“Looking good!” Zelda called from below.
Damn. There was amusement in her voice and I glared at her. But she’d known me since I was a calf and even though I was the Alpha, she would ignore the scowl.
“You two work well together.” She shrugged at yet another warning look and wandered away.
“Your family seems pleased with how things are going.” A smile played on Reed’s lips. There was something about how he spoke that I wondered if he picked up on what Zelda had been doing.
“They're pleased about our progress.” That sentence could have referred to me and Reed. I kept calm though my insides were churning and part of me was stiffening.
Erik appeared with coffee and a not so innocent expression plastered on his face. "Thought you might need a break.”
Each time I drank coffee here I thanked the goddess that Reed hadn’t made it.
Erik cleared his throat. “Roscoe, didn't you want to discuss that paperwork with Reed?”
Paperwork? I stared at him before I twigged to what he was doing. My brain couldn’t come up with anything other than, “Ummm yes maybe. There are some details we should go over.” But Reed didn’t appear to have heard.
Erik grinned and left and I sighed. My pack wouldn’t stop their maneuvering until Reed and I had alone time.
We worked through the afternoon, but my reindeer was tired of my go slow routine. Not the building work, that was speedy, but my relationship with Reed. He was demanding I tell him he was my mate and mark him, and his restlessness was hard to ignore. My body jiggled as he rocked from side to side.
From the corner of my eye I noted wood chips entangled in Reed’s hair. I should have said nothing because everyone had them on their clothes and hair, and he’d shower when he got home. But my reindeer was shoving me and I allowed him to push me toward our mate.
Reed smelled of pine which was his default scent. “You've got something in your hair.” I picked out a wood chip but my fingers lingered longer than they should have. He leaned into me and whispered his thanks. It was a small thing, nothing really and yet I was convinced sparks flew.
What? Is there a fire?
No. I’ll let you know if we set the place on fire.
“Roscoe!” one of the pack members called. “Can you help us with this beam?”
“Coming.” I dawdled, inhaling Reed’s delicious scent before pulling myself away, which irritated my reindeer.
By late afternoon, the pack was preparing to head back to our temporary housing in town. The barn frame was complete, and everyone was pleased with the progress.
“We'll be back tomorrow to finish the roof,” Erik told Reed as he loaded equipment into his truck. “If the weather lets us.”
The temperature had dropped and there were angry dark clouds headed this way. The road between here and town was known for getting blocked after a heavy snowfall. If it snowed, we’d be stuck in town and I wouldn’t see Reed.
I could get us here.
True. But me arriving naked in the middle of a snow storm would need an explanation. Reed knew who I was but not that he was my mate.
“The weather around here changes fast,” Reed noted.
As the pack prepared to leave, Zelda approached me, holding a folder. “Don't forget these.” She grinned. “Reed will need to see the permit applications before we can proceed.”
I took the folder and frowned. We'd already handled the necessary permits, but Zelda’s smug expression suggested this was part of whatever scheme she and the others had been hatching.
“There are very important details that require concentration and a long discussion.” She smiled at both of us. “Take your time.”
After the vehicles disappeared down the drive, Reed and I stood shoulder to shoulder while I held the folder. I didn’t want to open it in case it was a bunch of blank paper with one word, “Surprise” written on it.
“Permit applications.”
I bounced the folder in one hand. Reed had scribbled his signature on page after page of permits and I suspected he’d read every one. I couldn’t pretend there were some he’d missed, only to reach his office and discover there was nothing in the folder.
“I don’t think there’s any need to do this now.
” I had opted not to tell Reed I had a friend at city hall who’d fast-tracked the permits which was why we were able to build the barn now.
I was surprised he hadn’t questioned us, because even though he’d lacked money and his office was a mess, all his paperwork was in order.
“Maybe we should. With the holidays coming, we should submit the ones we forgot.”
My pulse sped up at the thought of being alone with him. The first and last time that happened, I’d run away to prevent a shift. But that was no longer a concern.
“If you think we should.”
“I do. And Erik has been showing me how to make coffee. Do you want to take a chance and try some?” He shivered as the wind picked up.
A snow storm was headed this way and the smart thing to do was to go back to town now. But smart went out the window in favor of one on one time with my mate.
“Let’s do it.”
We walked toward the farmhouse and my shoulder brushed against his. Before my beast could bug me about mating, I told him to sit this out and sleep. As a reward, I’d let him shift late tonight when we got home.
As we climbed the porch steps, it occurred to me I’d never been in Reed’s home, only the office. The front door creaked but his hand remained on the knob.
“Your family wants us to spend time together.”
Damn. He’d picked up on that and he’d still agreed to this sham meeting. Maybe that was because he liked Zelda and the others and didn’t want to disappoint their efforts. Though as I said the words in my head, it didn’t seem likely.
“They think I’m lonely.” I could hardly get on bended knee and admit he was my fated mate. “I hope you don’t mind.” Please don’t say do you because my heart would shatter.
“No.” He didn’t avoid my gaze but looked directly at me. “I don't mind.” He bit his bottom lip.
Now what? Saying it didn’t bother him wasn’t the same as throwing himself into my arms.
“Good.” My voice was more high-pitched than usual which was my reindeer’s doing, damn him. “Because I don't mind either.”
Reed was so close, I could have stroked his cheek. His breathing had quickened and he tugged an earlobe. Was that a secret human signal? But for what? Back off or get closer? Despite his promise to sleep, my reindeer was squeeing.
“The permits,” Reed said.
“Right. The permits.”
The atmosphere in the farmhouse was similar to the office and it was full of memories, chipped porcelain, and frayed carpets. But it was a home that had been filled with love with photos of Reed and his aunt on every surface.
I spread out the documents on the table, pleased I had something to keep my hands busy. But when I glanced up, Reed wasn't making coffee. Instead he was studying me and rubbing the back of his neck.
My body temperature was rising and I hoped I didn’t start to sweat.
“See something interesting?” I might have sealed my fate with that question but I had to know the message that accompanied his glances and wistful smiles.
But before he could respond, he swiveled toward the window. Snow was falling. My beast and I should have picked up on that but we were befuddled by our mate. The flakes multiplied and the world outside the windows became gray. Soon I couldn’t see the horizon.
What were my options? I could leave now and hope the roads weren’t already treacherous. The barn was almost complete but the roof wasn’t finished so I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t presume that Reed would offer me a bed, though I would have loved to share his.
I’m not shifting so you can leave. No!
“I should go before the roads get bad.” But I made no move toward the door.
“You could.” Reed tugged at his collar. “Or you could stay. It’s up to you.”
Gods, I needed a guide to human behavior. It was too late to check my phone and I had to figure out if he was being polite or if he didn't want me to have an accident. How did I know which it was other than asking him straight out?
“Are you sure about me staying?” I’d taken the cowardly way out by making him come out and say it.
Reed pushed a chair under the table and it scraped over the old wooden floor. “I’m sure.” His hands trembled as he gripped the chipped wood.
I gathered my courage and got up, putting a hand on his hip, hoping he didn’t pull away and tell me to get out. He didn’t though, he stepped closer and his warm breath washed over my jaw.
“This might not be a sensible idea.”
“Probably.” His hand was on my waist. “Do you care?”
My answer was to brush a thumb across his cheek and he responded with a sharp intake of breath.
“I don’t.”
And then I kissed him. I was careful not to shove my tongue down his throat because this was our first kiss and I had to be gentle and give him the opportunity to pull away if that was what he wanted.
But he raked his hands over my scalp and ground his hips against me while moaning as I licked around his mouth.
I nibbled his lower lip and he whimpered, whispering he’d been longing for me.
He parted his lips, almost begging me to enter, and my tongue slid in and tangled with his. Our tongues danced and dueled, and when we broke apart, both of us were breathing hard, I rested my brow on his.
“Any regrets?”
“Ask me in the morning.” He leaned in to kiss me again.