Chapter Five
Gideon grinned when he heard the click. Oh, she thought she could get away and refuse to see him? Hell, no. In fact, she just made him and his wolf want her more, and he was always up for a good chase.
He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.
If Jessica knew the thoughts going through his head, she’d run for her life.
He knew he’d have to calm his ass down because he didn’t want to scare her.
But he would take her, and then she would never get away from him.
They were destined to be mates for life, and he was going to claim her and make it happen.
Gideon planned on stalking her in her garden. He’d stay back, but he wanted to be able to see and study her. He figured if he shifted, it would be better for him to hide in his wolf form than try to get to the back of her house as a man. He’d just have to take it slow, so she didn’t scream.
The next day, he drove to her house and parked on the other side of the grove of trees, and went in search of his mate.
Her scent hit him immediately as he exited the car, and it was incredibly easy to find her. He shifted, walked closer to her, crouched behind some bushes a few yards away, and watched her dig in the dirt. He had to smile a few times when she cursed about something.
She was in ratty jeans and a t-shirt, but to him, she would look gorgeous wearing anything.
But it was when she was naked that he’d like her the best. The thought of his hands on her soft skin and being able to kiss and taste her whenever he wanted to.
.. Being anywhere inside of her would be the ultimate experience that he was beginning to crave already, and he hadn’t even touched her yet.
Gideon couldn’t wait another moment to have her hands on him. He just didn’t want to scare her to death.
He looked and smelled to make sure no one else was there before he slinked out between two of the bushes.
He could tell the moment she noticed him. She opened her mouth to scream, but then it snapped closed when he turned on his back with his belly up, showing her in the best way he knew that he was harmless.
He whined when she started to retreat. It stopped her cold.
“What the hell are you? There’s no way you’re a wolf. Maybe you’re one of those Malamutes or Husky dogs,” she said.
Gideon rolled and crawled closer to her before he leaned his head against her thigh.
She stiffened again, but then set her hand on the top of his head.
He couldn’t help the groan that escaped having her touch him. She froze against him, but he stayed still until she relaxed.
“You’re so soft.”
He had to bite his tongue to keep from making a sound when she used both of her hands and her fingers to comb through his fur.
“You don’t have a collar. I wonder where your family is?” she asked. “Maybe we should take a picture of you and put it online, so if anyone is looking for you. If nothing else, they’ll know the area you were last seen.”
He certainly didn’t want her to do that. He pushed against her thighs, making her lose her balance, making her fall to the ground. The fact that she laughed instead of freaking out made him want her even more.
“Ugh,” she said when he lay down over her and pressed most of his body against hers. She pushed against him, trying to get him to move. “Get off of me. You’re squishing me.”
He smiled and lifted his chest off hers.
She was startled by that. “You’re pretty smart, aren’t you... I don’t know if you’re a girl or a boy. I should have looked when you were on your back.”
Gideon rolled to the side.
“Oh, well. Okay. Let’s see.”
He was charmed when a blush covered her face as she inspected his body.
“You’re definitely a boy.” She stood and brushed the dirt from her clothing. “Now, what am I supposed to do with you?”
Gideon smelled the scent of another human. He nudged her and licked her cheek once before he turned and ran off.
****
“Wait,” she yelled.
“Who are you yelling at?” her sister asked.
She spun to face her sister. “There was a dog here. I was going to try to find its owner, but it ran off.”
Her sister crinkled her nose. “You didn’t touch the thing, did you? Couldn’t you get rabies or something disgusting from touching one of them?”
Jessica almost snorted. “I’m not sure. I’ll check into it. What did you want?”
“I just wanted to tell you that I’ll be out this evening.”
That confused Jessica. Her sister never told her what she was going to do, and she couldn’t remember a night she hadn’t gone out.
“Okay,” she said sarcastically.
“I’ll be out with my fiancé,” she said smugly.
Jessica turned and crouched to pick up her tools and started digging when she felt a rush of fury hit her that she was barely able to hide. “Cool. Have fun.”
“Don’t you want to know where we’re going?”
Jessica rolled her eyes. “Not especially. I couldn’t care less what you do.”
Jessica felt the tension in the air rise, and her sister’s breathing deepened in anger. If she thought of getting a rise out of her, she should know better.
Bambi finally gave up, turned, and stomped off.
Her first emotion was anger when her sister told her she’d be with Gideon, but it quickly settled, and all she felt was calm and serene, and she didn’t understand it at all.
Not the anger nor the calmness. Hell, even the way she reacted to the dog surprised her.
She’d never been around one, but it, he, made her feel safe instead of the fear she thought she would have felt.
She continued for another hour before going in and showering. She sat down at her desk and turned on the computer. It took her a moment to see the new cellphone next to her keyboard.
Jessica picked it up and studied it before she turned it on. Who would have left their phone on her desk, and why were they even by it? The maid knew better than to disturb it. She went through the contacts, hoping to determine who it was.
The weird thing was that it only held one phone number. Curious, she dialed and waited. She almost dropped it when Gideon answered.
“There she is. I wondered how long it would take your curiosity.”
She lost the ability to talk for a moment. “What are you doing?”
“I’m talking to my woman,” Gideon said.
Jessica almost snorted. “How did you get a phone to my room?”
“I had it delivered and wanted it where you would see it quickly.”
“Okay, now tell me why? Aren’t you on a date with my sister?”
A growl came through the phone, and instead of scaring her, it made her body crave his even more.
“I’m telling you right now, mate. If you ever say that kind of thing again, you’ll regret it.”
“Oh, really.” She smiled. If he thought he was frightening her, he was wrong. “And what’s with the mate thing?”
“I know it’s different, and you’ll understand in good time. But for now, just know you’re mine...”
“Whoa. I haven’t agreed to anything.”
“You’re really pushing it, mate.”
She almost rolled her eyes. “Listen, Gideon, I don’t know anything about you, and my sister is determined to have you.”
“No, she just wants me because I don’t want her, and she knows I’m attracted to you.”
Jessica guessed that, too. But it didn’t help the problems she’d have if she ignored her sister. She would never hear the end of it from her father.
“I know that, Gideon. I’m afraid to rock the boat. You have no idea how hard they can make my life.” She wanted to add that she hated it.
“Why are you living there then?” he asked.
That was a good question, and she’d asked herself that a lot. It’s not that she needed money. She had more than her father. She smiled. If he ever found out, he’d have a conniption fit.
“I guess it’s just easy. I’ve lived here my whole life, and I have my garden here. I guess it’s just easier staying than it is leaving.”
“You did the whole garden?”
“Yes,” she said. “It’s a passion of mine.”
“It’s beautiful. If you lived at my house, you’d have acres of land in the back for whatever you want. It’s very plain right now. Just pathways and bushes.”
She sputtered and then laughed. “We haven’t even been on a date, and you’re talking about me living there?”
“Yes. If I had my way, you’d be here now.”
A shiver raced down her spine at the deep timbre of his voice. “Give me time.” As much as she wanted the same thing, she needed to do it the smart way. It wouldn’t take much for her family to cut her out of their lives. Eventually, she wouldn’t give a damn, but not right then.
“I have to talk to you about something, but I want to do it in person,” Gideon said. “Where and when can we meet?”
She thought about it for a moment. “There’s a coffee shop on Timberlake Street. I can be there tomorrow at 10:00. Will that work for you?”
“I’ll see you then,” he said and hung up.
She got back to work but couldn’t concentrate because he was filling her head. She’d take one day at a time and see what happened.