“No.” Chase shook his head. “You are not going into a volatile situation where ninety-nine percent of the people around you can shift into bears or wolves. I won’t allow it.”
Shelley gave him a dirty look. “You won’t allow it?”
Chase met her gaze straight on. “You have skills that are needed far more elsewhere. It might make me an asshole, but having you in danger once was enough. If there’s fighting, and chances are there will be, you’d do more good having a medical base set up somewhere nearby instead of making me crazy.”
When Shelley touched her partner’s cheek tenderly, all her anger washed away, Tyler couldn’t stop from glancing at Caroline. She was watching her sister, longing on her face for a second before she pulled that cloak back in place and became business as usual.
“I’ll organize an RV with medical supplies in the campsite next door.” Caroline turned to Evan. “We might want some wolves to help patrol the campground anyway, to keep any human visitors away from potential trouble.”
“Deal. I’ll talk to the more reliable pack members. The ones who can be trusted to keep their heads.” Evan poked Tyler in the arm. “Head’s up. My pack won’t step in if you guys start fighting, not unless Caroline or anyone other than bears is threatened. It’s the best I can do in terms of keeping my territory safe and not overstepping boundaries.”
Tyler couldn’t believe this was happening. “You guys are really organizing as backup for us?”
Chase sprawled in his chair. “Strange, isn’t it? I don’t know if it’s all wolves or just this pack, but they have some weird attitudes.”
“It’s a potential fight. Since you didn’t send an invitation, we had to arrange one for ourselves.” Evan flashed a grin then checked his watch. “It’s been fun, kids, but I have things to do. Don’t stay up too late.”
He was out the door before Tyler could thank him. Or hit him, he wasn’t sure which he wanted to do more.
“We’re leaving as well.” Shelley loaded the empty takeout boxes into the garbage before giving Caroline a farewell hug and joining Chase at the door. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay, Caro?”
“Not too early, I hope.” Caroline waved them off. She looked around the room, her lips twisting in resignation. There was only her and Tyler in the room, Justin having vanished into the back of the suite. “Well, that’s that, then. I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Where are you going to sleep?” Tyler leaned on the door. “You don’t have a place with Evan, and your sister is back in her apartment.”
Her mouth tightened.
Justin stepped from his room, small bag in his hand. “I’m headed to the pack house for the night. Frank invited me to play poker with him and the wolves. Said to bring lots of money.”
And there was part of the solution Tyler needed. He opened his wallet and pulled out a roll of bills, pressing them into his friend’s palm.
Justin stared at the wad in confusion. “I wasn’t hinting for a handout.”
Tyler shrugged. “My brother won’t accept cash from me, but he’ll take it in winnings.”
“So you’re telling me to lose?”
Tyler nodded.
“Damn it.” Justin put the money away. “Fine, you owe me a game. Sometime when I can get sweet revenge and prove I’m a shark.”
Justin surprised them both by giving Caroline a hug before heading out, the door clicking behind him. Caroline eyed Tyler as if she’d been left alone in the room with a dangerous beast on the loose.
Which wasn’t one hundred percent inaccurate.
He took a slow step forward, closing the space between them until he could touch her arm. “Will you stay the night?”
Her glare softened. “You’re not going to pull an asshole move and order me to stay? That’s what it sounded like you had planned.”
He shook his head. “I was pointing out you didn’t have a place to go in case you wanted to ask to stay. But hoping you’d realize how much I want you to be with me was taking too long.”
Great, she had him talking in circles.
The situation had changed though, after their impromptu meeting with the others. “We spoke earlier about getting together to make plans. We’re done that part, and I still want you around. Please stay?”
Her slow nod made Tyler smile from ear to ear.
She tugged him to the couch with her, curling up at his side and closing her eyes as she leaned against him. “Part of me wants a do-over of this week. Heck, this summer, even.”
“It’s been stressful?”
“Understatement.” She sighed. “Not your fault. Don’t think I’m blaming you or anything.”
Of course she wouldn’t blame him. From what he’d seen, she didn’t let anyone else do anything without her having time to rescue them.
“Come on.” He pulled her into his arms, pleased she rested her head on his chest and allowed him to carry her into his room. “You want to relax in the hot tub for a while?”
She chuckled. “No thanks. Think I’ll stay away from the thing. I’ll just have a quick shower.”
“Why not indulge yourself?” Tyler set her on the edge of the bed, working on her laces until he could remove her hiking shoes. “If you don’t want to go outside, I spotted this awesome soaker tub in the bathroom. Nice and deep.”
“Big enough for two?” Their hands brushed momentarily.
“If you’d like. No pressure.” He kept undressing her, attempting to make it as nonsexual as possible in case she wanted time alone.
When she tugged his T-shirt free from his jeans, scraping her nails over his abdomen, he shivered.
They both ended up in the tub that, thankfully, was made for shifter-sized dudes. Her ass rested in his lap. His cock must have been an uncomfortable rock pressed to her ass cheek, but she melted back against him as the water rose to chest level.
It would have been a crime not to fondle the delicate skin within his grasp.
They stayed there, silent for the longest time. Just touching her. Thinking. Trying to listen to what she
“Caroline?”
“Uh-huh?” Another long exhale, this time accompanied by a small stretch of her back as she pressed her breast more firmly into his hand.
Tyler caressed her nipple with the pad of his thumb. “We never talked about what we did on the trail this morning.”
“Did we need to talk? It was hot. I enjoyed it.”
The sincerity in her words reassured him, as did the flush on her skin and the softening of her body.
“I had fun as well.” He twisted until he could lift her mouth to his, connecting their lips and kissing her deeply. She hummed, a satisfied sound that pleased him as much as her fingers on his chest. When she dug her nails in harder, a growl escaped before he could stop it.
She shivered, her nipple tightening under his palm.
He slowed, lips still moving against hers, but his touch becoming more and more subtle until the tension in her body changed. It seemed she was aroused, but feeling delicate in spite of the cut of her nails into his flesh.
“What do
He whispered the words against her temple. This woman who couldn’t shift forms had more layers to her than he’d suspected, and something urged him on. Not to wrap her in gauze and protect, but to really listen.
Caroline’s breathing picked up.
She cautiously crawled out of his lap and bolted from the bathroom without a word.
Shit.
Tyler followed, holding on to the doorway as he searched her out in the darkened room.
