Chapter 7
7
T hat night while doing some searches for the kidnapper, Kira got a report that a black Suburban had been stopped for speeding near her family’s home in Loveland, Colorado. She got excited, but the license didn’t match the one the kidnappers’ vehicle had. And the driver the highway patrolman pulled over was a woman and she had been alone.
Kira walked out of Bella’s office and into the kitchen where Bella was making spaghetti for dinner.
“Are you having dinner with Fisher?” Bella stirred the sauce.
“I am.”
“This is one of his favorite dinners that I make. Would you like me to make a couple of containers filled with spaghetti for the two of you?”
“I sure would. Thanks.”
Bella and Devlyn were so nice. She felt like she was a member of the family, not an outsider.
“And four slices of garlic toast. I would send wine, but Heath would give me heck for it,” Bella said, laughing.
That was funny because even though Bella was a pack leader, the doctor still had the final say when it came to his patients.
Once Bella had packed the food in an insulated container and Kira put it in her car, she drove over to the clinic. The staff greeted her and one of the nurses said, “He’s waiting for you. He had offers all day for dinner with pack members, but he declined them and they knew just who he was turning them down for.”
Kira smiled. He was so sweet, but she was glad to hear that other pack members had been interested in his welfare too.
When she arrived at his room, Tanner was pulling guard duty again. “Hmm, Bella’s delicious spaghetti.”
“I can’t wait to try some,” she said and walked into Fisher’s room.
He was sitting up, smiling. “Oh, I smell Bella’s spaghetti and garlic toast.”
“Yeah. She said it was one of your favorite meals of hers.”
“It is.”
Before Kira could set up the dishes on his table, he wanted another hug from her. She was so amused, but she loved giving him a hug, though she was careful not to hurt him.
“You know if Martin hires me, we’re going to have to work together,” Fisher said.
“I think, despite me being fairly new, he might. I told him how great you are. And he might believe we would make a good team. That’s really important in the business we do.”
“I sure hope so. That would make me the happiest wolf in the world.”
She sure hoped so too. “We’ll see. We might find we have a completely different way of going about solving a mission and end up just bickering or fighting all the time.” She didn’t believe it, but they would have to work together to see.
“No way,” he said.
She laughed. Then she sat down next to his bed, and they began to eat.
But in the middle of eating their spaghetti, Heath walked into the room, surprising them. “Okay, I have good news. I’ll release you tonight if you stay with somebody.”
Fisher immediately looked at Kira. “You can stay with me at my house.”
“I trust you,” Heath said to Kira. “I know he would feel better at home. Of course it’s up to you.”
“No, that would be fine. I would love to.”
Fisher looked like he was in heaven. She smiled.
“Enjoy your dinner. I’ll have your marching orders by the time you’re done.”
“Thanks, Heath,” Fisher said.
“I need to free up the bed at the clinic in case I have a real medical emergency.” Heath winked at Kira. He left them to have dinner in peace.
“Don’t wolf down your meal just so we can leave the clinic quicker,” Kira warned Fisher.
Fisher laughed. “I don’t mean to be eating it so fast, but I love Bella’s spaghetti.” Then he crunched on a slice of garlic toast. “And I love her toast.”
“Yeah, it’s all great.”
Once they finished eating, she packed up the dishes. He was having difficulty dressing and she hurried to help him into his boxer briefs first. She was totally impressed by his hot physique.
He sat on the bed, and she put on his socks. Then she began to pull up his blue jeans and was amused to see his arousal, which meant it was harder to get his pants pulled up over it and zipped.
“You’ll have to settle down a bit so I can get you zipped up,” she teased.
“That’s not possible when you’re doing all the zipping.”
She chuckled and finally secured his pants. “You need to get your mind on something else.”
“It’s impossible.”
Then she picked up his shirt, but he said, “I could go without.”
She smiled. “It’s too cold out tonight. What if you got hypothermia while I’m supposed to be watching over you? Besides, I know you just want to show off your beautiful chest to me for longer—which, if it was summer, I would totally agree with.” She carefully pulled his shirt sleeve up his bad arm. He flinched and she hated that he was still sore, but she figured he would be for a while longer. She slipped his shirt on the rest of the way and buttoned it. Once she was done with it, she affixed his sling and then he sat down on his bed so she could put on his boots.
“You come in handy for sure.”
“You would do the same for me,” she said.
“In a heartbeat.”
Then they left the room and Tanner rose from his chair. “We’ll have someone sitting outside your place as additional protection on different shifts.”
“Thanks, Tanner,” Fisher said.
“Brock is over there already.”
“Okay, great.”
Then Fisher got into Kira’s car. “I can’t believe you have the same vehicle as me. The same color too.”
“Like minds. I guess someone drove your car home for you,” she said, not having thought of that earlier.
“Yeah. Brock did. He said he left it in the garage.”
“Good. Oh, I need to drop by Bella and Devlyn’s home and get my bag. I’ll be just a minute.”
“Their place isn’t far from mine.”
Kira called Bella to let her know she was staying with Fisher for the night.
“We know,” Bella said.
“I should have figured that,” Kira said, laughing. “I forget you’re a wolf pack and everyone knows everything.”
“Yeah, we have to work together, plus we’re making sure that you both are being guarded in case the kidnappers track you here and want to eliminate you. Not that we really expect it because I’m sure they’re trying to keep anyone from catching them. But we just want to make sure.”
“Exactly.” Then Kira arrived at their place, gave Bella her dishes from dinner, and hugged Bella and Devlyn. “We loved your spaghetti and garlic toast. It was great.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. If you want any more meals, just let us know. I guess we’re still having dinner with you tomorrow night.”
“Yes, thanks. We’ll just eat breakfast and lunch at Fisher’s home. He can rest and I’ll be searching every resource I can to try and locate the kidnappers in the meantime.” She went into the guest room and packed up her things. Then she hugged them again. “I’ll let you know if I find out where the kidnappers are. Otherwise, I’ll bring Fisher over here for dinner tomorrow night.”
“That sounds good,” Devlyn said. “If you need any help with anything, let us know.”
“I will, thanks.”
“Enjoy your evening,” Bella said.
“We will.” Though Kira didn’t plan to do anything but put Fisher to bed and then continue to work on her case.
She rejoined Fisher in the car and began driving to his home. “So, what do you like in a she-wolf?” She’d never been interested enough in a male wolf to ask the question. But with Fisher, she was fascinated with him and wanted to know all she could about him.
“I’ve never really had a type. Not until I saw you rappelling down a cliff to save my life. And then I knew I was in love.”
She laughed.
“Especially when you weren’t afraid of me, and then I smelled you were a wolf too. But, man, a sexy, red wolf who came to take care of me? Not only that, you were so worried about the boy too and risked your life trying to protect him. You have a real heart and a real compassion for others. You’re totally selfless.”
“Nobody has ever said something so nice to me. Thank you.” She was thinking about her last partner that she’d been teamed up with. “You could have died from your injuries, but you perked up right away when you realized I was a she-wolf.”
“That’s for sure. For me, it was the best way of all to start the healing process. So what kind of wolf appeals to you?”
“I look for a wolf that’s funny, attentive, active, loves trying new things, and enjoys life. A boon is being protective and loyal. You’re totally all that and more. I was shocked and worried when you shifted out of your wolf form and were naked. Though you were quite impressive to gaze at, I was afraid you would get hypothermia.”
“I got a kick out of you ordering me to shift back.” He smiled. “I couldn’t control my shifting because I was in so much pain.”
She smiled. “I can be bossy at times. But I appreciated that you weren’t annoyed with me.”
“Believe me, I hadn’t wanted to shift into my human form at the time, but I was glad I could talk to you.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Fisher planned to give Heath an extra special gift for Christmas after releasing him from the clinic so he could go home, but best of all, so he could be with Kira. As far as he was concerned, the situation couldn’t be any better than this. Well, if he wasn’t wounded and hurting, then it would be. He really wanted to court the she-wolf.
She grabbed her bag and followed him into his house. “Your home is lovely. I love your large fireplace.”
“Do you want me to start a fire?”
“No.” She set her bag down next to the couch. “You need to go to bed. If you had been at the clinic, you would have been resting.”
He sighed. “What are you going to do?”
“I’ll go to bed after a while. If you can give me your Wi-Fi access, I’ll check and see if I can find any clue as to where the kidnappers have gone.”
“I can help you.”
She frowned at him. “You…are…going…to bed.” Then she took his arm and led him to the hallway.
“Our bedroom is at the end of the hall.”
“Our?”
“Yeah, you’re going to stay with me, aren’t you? I mean you can sleep with me in my bed and then if I get feverish or start groaning in pain, you’ll know it right away.” Fisher wanted her to stay with him in the worst way. He couldn’t help that he had the hots for the she-wolf.
“You are such a charmer. Well, I can’t let you suffer alone when I could be there to take care of you. And I did promise Heath.”
“Yes!” Fisher said. “Will you be long?”
“Probably not too long.” Then she pulled aside his covers so that he would sleep on the left side of the bed so she wouldn’t bump his shoulder. “When I join you in bed, there will be no monkey business.”
He laughed. Not that he wouldn’t like to cuddle with her, but he probably couldn’t manage it. “Maybe later, when I’m all healed up.”
“Do you need me to help you undress?”
“I can manage.” He struggled to remove his boot.
She watched and then said, “I’ll help you.”
“Yeah, thanks. I can do it, but it would take so long you would probably be done with your searches and be on your way to bed by then.”
“Go ahead and sit down on the bed and I’ll remove your boots and socks. Just don’t get all excited on me so it will be easier to remove your pants.”
He loved her sense of humor. But her touching him got him all worked up in a heartbeat so he wasn’t promising her he could behave where his other head was concerned, at least as far as her undressing him went.
Sure enough, as soon as she began to unzip his pants, his erection was swelling in anticipation of making an even greater connection with her.
She laughed. “It sure doesn’t take much to get you all stirred up.”
“You’re the reason.”
Once he stepped out of his pants, she set them aside and removed his sling. Then she began unbuttoning his shirt, glanced down at the bulge in his boxer briefs, and smiled. “Once you’re healed…”
“Yeah?”
“We’ll see.”
“You’re killing me, you know?”
“You should have dodged that bullet.”
“We wouldn’t be here now,” he said, sure of it. As much as he hated being shot and falling off the cliff, if he hadn’t done that, she wouldn’t be here acting as his caretaker.
Then she removed his shirt and with his good arm, he wrapped her in his embrace. “Thanks for all that you’re doing for me.”
She gave him a soft hug back. “I don’t want to hurt your bruised ribs.”
“They’re feeling better.”
She lifted his face to his, her gaze shifting to his lips, her tongue licking her lips as if getting ready to kiss him, and he pressed his mouth to hers. She felt glorious, warm, wet, and willing. He loved it. He knew with her nurturing him that he would heal in half the time a wolf shifter would take.
Their tongues explored each other, and he was so into her, his hand caressing her back, her eyes closed as she seemed to revel in the kiss as much as he was. They finally ended the kiss and man he wanted her in his bed now. He hadn’t ever known a she-wolf he wanted to get this involved with like he did with Kira. She was just everything he could ask for in a girlfriend. Though everything he said about joining the organization was true, his driving need to join the USF was to be with her, to aid her, to protect her, and to deepen their relationship.
“Off to bed with you now. The more rest you get, the faster you’ll be back to normal. And we can do more than this.” She gave him a brief kiss.
He groaned. He wanted more now. His shoulder was only hurting just a little bit. Then he climbed into bed, hurt his shoulder again, and really groaned, but in pain this time.
“See?” She covered him up. “I’ll be in bed in a little while. Don’t wait up for me. Sleep .”
Then she kissed his mouth again and he knew she was his. At least he sure hoped so.
He gave her his password for his Wi-Fi. She turned out the bedroom light and left the room. He didn’t think he could sleep, but before he knew it, he was out.
Ohmigod, Kira knew it was too early to have feelings like she did for Fisher, but he was such a good kisser. He was the kind of wolf she could envision being with forever. She told herself she really had to slow down, but then again, if he hadn’t been injured, she would have been going as far as they could without having out and out sex, since that would amount to a mating for life.
Before she got to work on her computer, she had to look over his house. Interior design had always fascinated her. Not that she wanted to work in the business, but she just loved seeing different floor plans and furnishings. Fisher had done a beautiful job decorating his house. He hadn’t expected to have a sleepover guest, yet his place was neat and clean, which really impressed her. She tended to be neat, but if someone just showed up at her place, she wasn’t sure it would be this clean!
She ran her hand over the velour couches sitting in a semi-circle, all a robin’s egg blue. The floor was tile, but a Turkish rug in blues, beiges, and tan covered part of the floor. Matching blue recliners sat on either side of the sectional and a round oak table rested in the middle. Pictures of the Colorado mountains and fields of flowers hung on the walls. And a large screen TV hung between bookshelves. She glanced at some of his books. Science fiction, fantasy. Some of the same books she liked.
Then she looked over the kitchen—open, airy, white cabinetry, big windows that looked out on several acres of trees. Really beautiful. She looked in some of the cabinets. He even had matching dishes and glassware, enough for twenty people. She figured he probably entertained his family here too. She checked the fridge. Full. Fruit, vegetables, a six-pack of beer, and everything he would need to eat normal meals. The freezer was packed with chicken, beef, and fish. Wow, she didn’t have half the food he did. But then with taking trips like this one and feeding only herself, she didn’t need as much.
She looked out on his back deck that was equipped for entertaining. A grill, seating for a dozen people, and woods surrounded the backyard too. Okay, she needed to get to work. She loved his large office. It also had large windows with a view that made it feel as though she was in the woods and not stuck in a closed-in space in a walled room.
She set up her computer and started searching police reports again. Still, nothing. She didn’t believe the men would think that any wolf shifters were after them. They probably were surprised that other wolf shifters had been in the area. But then she looked back at the earlier kidnappings she figured they had done and saw that they had waited about a week before they did it again. Shoot. So if they followed their old pattern, they would lay low for a few days before they tried to grab another kid. It could be that they took that time to stalk one instead of just grabbing one out of the blue. They seemed to be calculating and smart about it, which was the reason they hadn’t gotten caught yet. But they hadn’t planned for a bunch of shifters to be on their trail. Well, once she found their trail again.
She finally glanced at the clock and realized it was after midnight. She didn’t want to disturb Fisher’s sleep, but she was afraid if he woke in the middle of the night, he would come looking for her, so she decided to slip into bed with him as quietly as she could. She took a shower in the guest bathroom, then pulled on her wolf in sheep’s clothing pajamas and headed for his bedroom. He had a big king size bed, plenty of room for them to sleep together but they would still be apart so she wouldn’t hurt his shoulder. He was sound asleep, looking so sexy, a light stubble covering his peaceful face, his hair all messed up as if they had already had a wild night of sex, his brown comforter tossed aside, showing off his well-muscled torso that she wanted to snuggle against.
She sighed. She wished she could, but in due time if they were still on the same page by then they would, and she believed they would be. She carefully pulled aside the covers on her side of the bed and climbed onto the mattress trying not to disturb him. But as soon as she pulled the covers over herself, he turned, and she was afraid she’d woken him.
“I’m cold,” he said.
She smiled at him. “You tossed your covers aside. But I suspect you just want me to snuggle with you.”
“You’re supposed to be taking care of me.”
She chuckled. “Hurting your shoulder is not taking care of you.”
“This shoulder doesn’t hurt.”
“Alright, but if I hurt you, you tell me. Don’t suffer through it just so I can cuddle with you. We’ll have more time for this when you’re all healed up, I’m sure.”
She hoped they wouldn’t regret it and she moved closer to him, and he wrapped his good arm around her. His heart was beating hard. So was hers. And already their pheromones were saying—go for it!
“This is nice.” She rested her head on his chest.
“It sure is.”
“You must be a light sleeper.” She really thought he would have slept through her climbing onto the bed.
“Only when I’m waiting for you to join me.”
She kissed his chest. “I love your bed. It’s just the perfect softness.” And he was the perfect hardness.
“I’m glad you like it. Did you learn anything about the kidnappers’ location?”
“No. I’ll try again tomorrow.”
And then they snuggled. She figured once he fell asleep, she would move away from him, but when she woke in the morning, he had cocooned her and oh, man, that was nice.