Chapter Sixteen #2
The reminder had her pulling back with a gasp. She couldn’t afford to lose her head over him, had to think of what was best for her son. They’d be amazing as lovers, but if things didn’t work out there’d be tension between them. That wouldn’t be good for any of them.
It wasn’t as though he’d offered her forever. He’d offered her a place to stay while she sorted out her life, and that was mostly so he could spend time with Adam.
Cyrus traced her mouth with the pad of his thumb. “I want you.”
She shuddered and sucked in a breath. Her breasts were heavy, her nipples hard nubs against the cups of her bra. She crossed her arms over her chest to hide the evidence of her arousal. “That’s not wise.”
His jaw hardened but he kept up the light caress.
“Maybe so, but I’m done with being wise.
” She had no idea what he meant by that and wasn’t sure she wanted to.
When he stood there was no missing the hard bulge in the front of his jeans.
She told herself to look away but kept staring.
“Your eyes are telling a different story. I can scent your arousal.”
Heat crept up her cheeks. Damn it, she’d forgotten his enhanced senses. There would be no hiding anything from him. “I’m not denying I’m attracted to you.” That would only label her a liar. “I’m saying I’m smart enough not to act on those desires without thinking about the consequences.”
“Would our being together be so bad?” It was impossible to read him no matter how hard she tried.
“I honestly don’t know.” And that confusion was a big part of the problem.
It would be easy to become his lover, but was that mere convenience because she was the mother of his son and being lovers would make it easier for him to spend time with Adam if they were together?
Or did he really want her for her? She pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes.
The headache, which had subsided while they’d been kissing, roared back to life with a vengeance.
She jolted when he lifted her off the couch and carried her down the hall. “What are you doing?” She kept her voice low, not wanting to disturb Adam.
He shouldered his way into her room and set her down on the bed. “Putting you to bed. Unfortunately, alone. You’re exhausted and I can tell your head hurts. You have anything you can take for that?”
“Medicine cabinet in the bathroom.”
He found the over-the-counter medication, filled a glass from the tap, and brought both back to her.
After she’d down two of the pills, he rubbed his hand over her hair.
“I know you’re worried, Vinnie, but you’re not alone.
Not anymore.” Leaving her sitting on the bed questioning her decisions, he left the room, softly closing the door behind him.
It was easier alone. Alone didn’t hurt. Alone was also a very lonely place to be. Dragging off her jeans, she crawled under the comforter and closed her eyes, but nothing could banish the kernel of regret in her heart that whispered Cyrus could be here with her.
****
Seated at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee cradled between his hands, Cyrus watched the sun rise. A slight breeze wafted through the window he’d opened bringing with it a hint of roses from the bushes outside.
The couch was nowhere near big enough for a man his size. He’d spent the night stretched out on the living room floor, alert for signs of any intruders. Not the best night he’d spent but nowhere near the worst.
Despite the less-than-stellar accommodations, a sense of peace had settled over him.
While he might have slept in another room, he’d spent the night under the same roof as his woman and their son.
The events of yesterday had solidified his goals.
If there’d been a single shred of doubt remaining, it had vanished.
Vinnie was human, but she was more than strong enough to be the mate of a wolf. Watching her face down her boss and then Wilkes while he’d been forced to watch had been a revelation. She’d carried herself with pride and an unshakable sense of self that was rare.
The only time she’d let down her guard and allowed a glimpse of her confusion and uncertainty to show had been with him.
All his protective instincts had roared to life with a force that had staggered him.
It would have been easy to coax her into bed last night.
There was no doubt she wanted him. That would have been a mistake for both of them.
Vinnie was afraid to get involved, was doing her best to keep him at arm’s length, despite her attraction to him.
He understood her concern. They had a son together, which meant they’d have a connection for the rest of their lives.
The fact Adam was a wolf, like him, was an added complication.
She needed his help. That made the entire situation tricky.
If they ended up in bed together, it would be because they both wanted to be there, not because she felt his help came at a price. She needed to understand his assistance was unconditionally guaranteed, regardless of what she decided to do.
He rolled his shoulders, listening to the telltale sounds of Vinnie stirring and fighting the urge to go to her and reassure her that everything would work out. He refused to have it any other way. Arrogant, maybe, but he wasn’t afraid to work damn hard, to give everything to make it happen.
If they were going to have any kind of relationship, she had to come to him. It had to be her choice. His job was to show her how good things could be between them without putting undo pressure on her.
His wolf snorted inside him. Cyrus was as subtle as a sledgehammer, but he was also a hunter by nature. He could be patient when the payoff was worth it. In the meantime, his job was to protect her and Adam. That meant not allowing himself to get distracted.
“You’re up.” Looking tousled and deliciously sleepy, Vinnie hovered uncertainly in the entrance separating the living room from the kitchen and dining area. “I didn’t offer you a pillow or blanket last night.”
“If I’d needed either, I’m capable of searching for them. It was no different than sleeping in the woods. I was fine.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip but nodded. “About last night.”
His dick had sprung to life the second she’d walked into the room.
There was no hiding it, but he could damn well ignore it.
“What about last night?” It would be more gentlemanly to tell her to forget it, only he didn’t want to.
If she had any thoughts on what had happened between them, he wanted to hear them.
The fine hairs on his neck stirred and his wolf growled a warning. Vaulting out of his chair, he dove at Vinnie, taking them both down. They slammed into the floor with him bearing the brunt of the fall. He rolled so she was protected beneath him.
The crack of a rifle was followed by the shattering of glass.
She shoved at his shoulders, wiggling out from beneath him, and yelled. “Adam! Get down!” There was no panic, only a calm sense of purpose. Staying low on her forearms and knees, she bolted toward the hall.
“Mom!”
“Get on the floor. Now!” She vanished into her bedroom.
Cyrus pulled himself over to the shattered window. Using the curtains for cover, he scanned the neighborhood for the shooter. There was no sign of anyone, not that he expected there to be. Just as he had a damn good idea of who’d fired the weapon.
Vinnie’s voice came down the hallway. “Someone just fired a shot through my kitchen window. No, no one was hurt, but there’s an active shooter in the neighborhood.
You might want to send someone.” The sharp order was coated with undisguised sarcasm.
“Idiot,” she muttered. With Adam in tow, she reappeared with a Glock in one hand and her phone in the other, both staying low. “Any sign of the shooter?”
“No. I suspect they’re long gone.” A faint siren sounded in the distance. “Cops are on the way.”
“I’m surprised they bothered to send anyone.
” The bitterness in her tone bothered him.
“Do you know what the idiot dispatcher asked me?” Without waiting for either of them to answer, she kept going.
“Forman wanted to know if I might have been mistaken. Mistaken? My window was blown out. I know the sound of a rifle.”
As a deputy, she’d likely dealt with many dangerous situations, but not in her own home, and not with her son’s safety at risk. She was furious, but it was a cold, controlled anger. He glanced at Adam and caught him staring at his mama, a glint of pride in his eyes.
When the lone squad car pulled up outside the house, they all rose from the floor.
Vinnie opened a kitchen drawer and shoved her Glock beneath some dish towels.
When he raised an eyebrow in question she muttered, “I wouldn’t put it past them to insinuate I shot the window by accident and called it in to save face. ”
The level of unfairness she’d faced over the course of her career slammed into him full force. These were people she’d worked with, had been forced to trust to have her back. For them to treat her this way was inexcusable. Cyrus was damn glad she was leaving the sheriff’s department and this town.
A fist pounded on the front door. “Open up, Vinnie.”
It was Cyrus who went to the door and yanked it open, surprising the deputy, who took a step back before he caught himself. “There was a call about a disturbance.” He rested his hand on the butt of his gun. Several of the neighbors were looking on with undisguised interest.
Vinnie shouldered him aside. “Someone shot out my damn window, Winslow.” She waved him inside and pointed toward the kitchen where glass was littered all over the table and floor.
The dark-haired deputy frowned and rubbed his jaw. “Probably some stupid kid.”
She pokered up, her expression blank. “That’s how you’re going to handle this?”
“Hell, Vinnie, what do you expect me to do?”
“I expect you to investigate. If you don’t have the time or interest, I’ll find the slug and dig it out of whatever surface it ended up in. I expect you to canvass the neighbors and find out if anyone saw anything. That’s if you’re not too busy with something more important.”
Winslow’s cell phone rang. He fished it out of his pocket and turned away to answer, but not before Cyrus caught a glimpse of the caller’s name.
“Yeah? Uh-huh.” He hung up and shoved his phone away.
“Listen, I’ll ask around, but I wouldn’t expect much to come of it.
” He shifted his weight from one foot to another, uncomfortable beneath their scrutiny. “You know how these things go.”
“I know how these things go now that I’m no longer a member of the department.”
“Hell, Vinnie.” Winslow straightened and tried to look tough. “I’m following orders.”
“I’ve already been forced to resign. Is this for shits and giggles, to make my life more difficult? Someone could have been seriously hurt. My kid’s in the house.”
“Those are serious accusations. You might want to be careful what you say. You don’t want to rile folks up.”
The blatant disregard for her and Adam’s safety was appalling.
He’d worked with his share of law enforcement over the years and found most of them to be conscientious, hardworking, and caring people.
Apparently, that wasn’t the case in this town, at least not among the deputies he’d met or the sheriff.
They might not take this threat seriously, but he damn sure was.
Cyrus pulled out his phone, pulled up his contacts, and hit the third number. It was answered on the first ring. “How far out are you?” The faster he could get backup here, the better.
“You might want to look outside the window.” When he did, Zach waved at him as he pulled up in front of the house.
“Who’s that?” Deputy Winslow demanded.
“You won’t protect Vinnie and Adam, I will.” Leaving the deputy to stay behind or follow, he headed for the door. “Stay inside,” he cautioned Vinnie and Adam. The shooter was likely long gone, but he wasn’t taking chances.
Zach was on his way up the walkway while Noah scanned the area. His brother nodded toward the broken window. “Trouble?”
“You could say that. Damn, it’s good to see you.” He pulled Zach in for a hug. “You weren’t supposed to be here until later.”
“Got an itch between my shoulder blades last night that wouldn’t go away. We packed up and headed out. We split the driving and made good time. You’ve clearly made an impression on the locals.”
“You could say that.” He canted his head toward the deputy who approached with a wary expression on his face.
“This is a crime scene. You can’t be here.”
“That’s quite the change from two minutes ago.” The man had the grace to look away. “We’re not going anywhere. We’ll wait outside, if need be, but we’re here until we get Vinnie and Adam out of this town.”