“Gabby can get it. I think I’m going to start back to the car, I need a moment of quiet.”
Raven took the car keys from her pocket and handed them to Capiria. “You going to be okay walking?”
The old witch laughed. “I just helped fight a demon and then brough a shifter back from the edge of death. A long stretch of the legs is a cake walk at this point. Besides, if I get tired, I can always fly.”
Raven and Gabby both turned at that.
“No way!” Gabrielle took a step. “When can I sign up for that?
Capiria laughed. “When we get home, love. When we get home.”
Gabrielle walked around the back of the milking shed to pick up Aiden’s backpack and the discarded night vision goggles. Across the field she saw Tanya by the edge of the woods, but where were the guys?
She quickly stuffed everything into Aiden’s pack and then slung it over her shoulder, jogging to where Tanya stood alone. Something was up.
“Where are the guys? What’s happening?”
Gabby spared a glance for the milking shed. Raven was there alone with Aiden, but Capiria was by herself, walking to the car. It wasn’t like the wolves not to rush back now that the fight was behind them, especially with one of their own hurt.
“They heard people in the woods. Probably just kids screwing around. The guys went to check, just to be sure.” Tanya seemed calm, so maybe there was no reason to worry.
As if on cue, the guys trotted back toward the small copse of trees off the field. The moment Luke saw her, he phased on the fly back to human, and Jared did the same.
“I still can’t get used to the whole naked wilderness thing with them,” Gabby said, watching both Luke and Jared jog over.
Tanya laughed. “You just deep-sixed a demon by opening a chasm in the earth. Not to mention earning your stripes as Lightning Lass after jolting Moe in the balls. I think you’re a little scarier when it comes to wild nature.”
“I know, but still. Look at those franks and beans bouncing free in the cool night.”
Luke slid his arms around her waist from behind, kissing her neck. “I thought you liked bouncing it free in the great outdoors.”
“Luke!”
“Ah HA!” Tanya pointed. “And you have the nerve to call me the nympho of the group!”
Jared raised an eyebrow, sliding an arm around Tanya. “A what of the what?”
“Nympho of the group,” she replied. “Apparently, that was me, but now Gabby shares the honors, all because the walls at the chateau are paper thin.”
“Well, if people want to listen and learn, so what?” Jared nuzzled her neck. “Don’t you think it’s time we headed back to town?” He nipped her ear. “Care to ride a bareback wolf for the time of your life?”
Tanya squealed as Jared dropped to all fours, phasing back to wolf form in seconds. “See you guys back at the ranch.” Climbing on the silver wolf’s back, she gripped his neck. “Giddyap, wolf boy!” They took off like a shot toward the woods.
“She rode him that way the night they met,” Luke whispered, kissing the side of Gabrielle’s ear. “You know, we should probably head back as well. It’s our civic duty to check the thickness of the walls everywhere we go.” He pressed himself against her ass. “Or at the very least, you can check out my thickness. Make sure everything works as it should.”
She leaned her head back on his chest, and he buried his face in her hair and neck. “The only thing that kept me sane throughout was the thought of you. Your face. Your smile. Your curves. Your scent. I want to scrub in a hot shower, and then fill the largest tub in the house and soak with you. Take you. Fill you. Love you.”
“We’ll have to wait for Raven and Aiden. Capiria already started back to the car.”
He feathered kisses across her neck and shoulder. “Aiden and Raven are probably doing exactly what I want us to do right now. I want you so badly, Gabrielle. If only to know you’re real. That this nightmare is over, and we’re together the way we should be.”
She pulled his hands tighter around her waist. “I was so afraid I’d lost you. Thank God your shifter clan shares that special telepathic thing, or I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did with Ray tonight.”
“You were amazing. Powerful, strong, and funny as hell.” Luke grinned against her throat. “Its tongue needs glasses? Classic.”
She turned in his arms. “You heard that?”
“Jared and I heard everything. We were cracking up at how you and Ray kept it light when the stress could have easily killed this mission as quickly as an energy ball.”
“Lightness to fight darkness.”
“Speaking of lightness, you want a ride back to town wolf-style?
She grinned, glancing toward the woods the way Tanya and Jared left. “You mean like them?”
He nodded.
It was on the tip of her tongue to squeal and say yes, but Luke had been through a lot over the past sixteen hours. “Not now.” She shook her head. “When we get back to the chateau, take me to our beach. I’ll ride you any way you want.”
Luke pulled her behind the biggest tree, away from prying eyes. His lips crushed hers, his tongue demanding as his hands roamed her soft curves and everywhere in between.
“I don’t think I can wait to get back to town. I need to feel your body beneath mine. To bury myself between your slick folds, inside your tight channel.”
“Gabby!” Raven called. “I need Aiden’s clothes!
