Chapter 6
Juliette lay tucked against Sigh’s side, her head on his chest, and his wolf was in heaven. He gently stroked his fingers up and down her back and stared up at the ceiling. It was the most content he’d ever been in his life.
Juliette was a miracle and she was in his arms.
He was falling for her already, and it had only been a day.
He’d made her come twice. His wolf was preening like a peacock.
She might have taken off last night because she didn’t know how to process the quick attraction that came with being a wolf’s truemate, but she wasn’t running now.
“I’m going to fall asleep if you keep rubbing my back like that.”
He laughed. “I could rub other things.”
She tilted her head and grinned. “You’re insatiable.”
“Just for you.”
She pressed her hand to his cheek. “I’m so glad we met last night, and not just because you have a wicked tongue.”
“It’s a bonus, though, yeah?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’m on for tonight. I can call off so I can spend the night sexing you up. Or you could come with me and I can cook for you again.”
“You’re really asking me to make a choice between sex and a burger?”
She straightened and her beautiful breasts made his mind immediately think of how much he loved touching her. She was so gorgeous. He wasn’t sure how he was lucky enough to have her for his truemate, but he was never letting her go.
“Burger first, orgasms later?”
She bit her bottom lip and her eyes darkened. “Yes.”
“To which part?”
“Orgasms later. My body is rebelling at that, but I’m hungry.”
He sat up and gave her a kiss. “I slept like hell last night.”
“Me too.”
“Will you spend the night with me?”
“At your place?”
“If that’s okay. I can bring you here before work so you can get ready.”
“That works for me.”
They got up and dressed, grabbed bottled water from the fridge, and walked to the bookstore where his Camaro was parked. He opened the door for her and then shut her inside, and when he was behind the wheel, he said, “On the way to the bar, what can I tell you about wolves?”
“Tell me how you guys wound up in King Lake and why there are only three of you. I thought that packs were bigger.”
“They usually are. Our home pack was about a hundred. The alpha decided that there weren’t enough matings and babies, and he ordered all the unmated adults to pair up – either choosing on their own or he’d arrange it.
My brothers and I have always wanted to wait for our truemates, so we said hell no.
” The alpha – that wrinkly old jackass – said comply or split, so they split.
They’d heard about King Lake which had been founded as a haven for shifters a few decades ago, and was nearly deserted by the time they showed up.
“We’re the most recent transplants in town.
The dragon clan’s been there about eight years, and the bears about five. ”
“That’s it, though? Just the three groups?”
“There’s homes sitting empty in small developments around the lake, so more groups could come in, but it’s just our three groups for now. We’re a live and let live sort of town. We all know each other, but we don’t meddle in the other groups’ shifter business.”
“Ah, so no alpha council?”
“Nope. It’s pretty simple – just don’t be an asshole to other shifters.”
He parked in front of the small home he’d claimed when they came to town. He stared at it for a moment, thinking about that day they’d come to King Lake and decided to carve a place for themselves in the world. He looked at her and she smiled.
“I’ll give you the grand tour after work. Ready for dinner?”
“Starved.”
“I bet it’s because a sexy wolf was in your bed, huh?”
“The sexiest.”
He got out of the car and came around to open her door and help her out. He stared down at her with a smile, his wolf’s tail wagging happily.
“What’s your middle name, Juliette?” he asked, smoothing her golden hair over her shoulder.
“Lenore, after my grandma. She died before I was born, so I never knew her. Yours?”
“Zelle.”
“That’s just as interesting as your first name.”
“My parents had a sense of humor for sure.”
He took her hand and walked with her toward the bar.
“What made you ask that?” she asked.
“Because I want to know the little things, too. And knowing that your middle name is Lenore after your grandma is a little tidbit about you that I know now.” He tapped his temple and wiggled his brows. “It’s a vault, baby. I’ll remember everything you say forever.”
“Uh oh,” she said with a laugh. “That sounds like a dangerous thing.”
“All right, I’ll only remember the important stuff. Like your middle name. Or what you sound like when you cry out my name.”
She made a little choking sound and covered her mouth as she giggled. “You just like to make me blush.”
“Correction, I love it.”
They walked to the front so he could introduce her to his brothers.
“Sweetheart, this is my younger brother Patrick. This is my mate Juliette.”
Trick nodded and extended his hand with a smile. “Hey, that’s awesome. Welcome to the family, Juliette. Everyone calls me Trick.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Inside, they stopped at the bar. “Juliette, this is my brother Darrin, the alpha,” he said.
“You can call me Dare,” he said, shaking her hand across the bar. “What can I get for you? I’ll make you anything you like.”
“I’m not much of a drinker, but I do love lemon lime soda and cranberry juice if you could do that?”
“Happy to.” He glanced at Sigh. “You are staying to work? I hate to be that guy, but Marco can’t run a whole dinner shift by himself.”
“I’m staying,” he said.
Dare slid the pale yellow and bright red drink across the counter to Juliette and said, “Holler if you need a refill.”
She took a sip and hummed. “This is great, thank you.”
“Anytime. Welcome to the pack.”
She walked with Sigh into the kitchen and greeted Marco, taking a seat on the stool he’d set up the night before. “Blue Monster, baby?” he asked as he tied his apron around his waist and looked at the tickets already coming through the printer.
“Yes please.”
“On it,” he said with a wink.
He got the burgers going to fill the tickets and make her dinner.
As he settled into the rhythm of work, they traded questions back and forth about their lives.
How she’d lost her dad at a young age, and her mom after high school.
How it was just him and his brothers; the pack of their youth and their family considered them dead for all intents and purposes.
“Family’s important to you,” she said, as she took a bite of the burger he’d made for her.
“Yes. I think it is for you, too.”
“Very much so,” she said. “I could tell it’s important to you and your brothers, because your eyes lit up when Trick welcomed me to the family and Dare welcomed me to the pack. For you guys, the words are interchangeable, aren’t they?”
He nodded. “Years ago, I wouldn’t have said that. Pack was pack, family was family. Close but not the same. But for us now, here in King Lake, the words mean the same thing – the people you’d kill for, walk across fire for, make a life with.”
“Feed,” she said, smiling as she picked up the burger.
He leaned over and kissed her. “You’ll never be hungry with me, baby. I’ll satisfy all the cravings you have.”
She grinned. “When does the tavern close?”
“Ten. I bet you’ll have all kinds of cravings by then.”
“I think you know me very well already, Sigh.”
“I’m trying my best.”
“Your best is amazing.”
Okay, he freaking loved it when she praised him.
He got back to cooking, sending burgers and fries out to his brothers after the dinner rush was over, then he and Juliette took a break on the back patio away from the smell of grilled meat and the noise from beyond the swinging doors.
He’d made a plate of loaded fries for them to share, with his homemade ranch and tons of cheese and crispy bacon.
“Sigh,” she said with a sigh of her own, “I can’t cook like you do.”
“What about it?” he pulled a fry loaded up with cheese and bacon and popped it into his mouth.
“Well, what if you get home from work and you’re starving, but my best is a grilled chicken salad or spaghetti?”
He stared at her, trying to decipher where her mind was going.
He wiped his hands on a napkin and took her hands.
“You’re my truemate. I think that means we will balance each other really well.
If you’re asking about the future, and how we’ll manage a home together, I think it’s incredible that you’re thinking about that.
And the truth is, I don’t know what that looks like, but I know that the only thing I really want to do is come home to you.
If that means us food prepping for the week and some late-night snacks instead of meals that we can enjoy together? I’m all in.”
She leaned in and kissed him. “You always know just what to say.”
“I’m trying.”
They finished the fries, and then dropped off the plate before heading out to the main room for her drink refill. While Dare made her another soda and cranberry juice, Sigh took her out to the deck that was being remodeled.
“Hey,” a deep voice called out from the shadows.
“Hey Luke,” Sigh said, as the big bear came into view. “This is my mate, Juliette. This is Luke. He works for the construction company in town and they’re doing the deck for us.”
“I forgot my tool belt,” he said, holding it up. “Nice to meet you, Juliette. See ya around.”
When they were alone on the deck, he told her about their plans for the summer concerts and outdoor seating. She stood in his arms and stared across the river, where the lights of Mill Creek were visible.
“It’s really a beautiful view.”
“I never noticed until now. I think it’s because I’m with you.”
She tilted her head back to rest against his chest. “You’re so sweet, Sigh. You make my heart happy.”
He kissed the top of her head with a happy grumble from his wolf. “You make mine happy too.”
“I like when you call me your mate.”
“Because it’s the truth.”
“I thought it would feel strange. We just met last night.”
He chuckled. “When you know, you know.”
She rested her hands on his arms. “I didn’t understand the pull to you last night, and I still don’t totally get everything about our connection. But I think I don’t have to understand it totally, I just have to live it.”
Turning in his arms, she placed her arms around his neck and went onto her toes.
“I’m right there with you.”
He lost himself in the kiss with his mate for long enough that he very nearly tossed her over his shoulder and rushed her home for the rest of the night. But he wasn’t going to abandon the kitchen, and he had Juliette to keep him company.
Breaking the kiss, he said, “I can’t wait to get you home.”
“How soon after ten can we leave?”
He grabbed the door to the main room and laughed. “It won’t be fast enough that’s for damn sure.”