Page 10 of The Mating Need
She bit off another piece of apple, chewed and swallowed, worried he wanted more than a day’s visit. “It needs fixing. Kind ofrundown.”
Troy laughed, a deep sound that send a shiver of pleasure down her spine. He gave her braid a playfultug.
“Sweetheart, remember that seedy hotel room I found for us back in Utah? This cabin is a mansion in comparison. The ranch looks good, too, Jenny. I checked it out while making my way to town to buygroceries.”
Jenny paused in chewing her apple. Troy had never stated that about any of the places they stayed. Especially not land obviously owned, and patrolled, by other Lupines. He liked what he hadseen.
Liked it and wants to settlehere?
Troy rolled a shoulder and winced. Jenny set the apple inside the sack and moved behind him, massaging his thick shoulders. Troy threw back his head on a blissful moan. Her fingers dug into the hard muscles, feeling the familiar thrill at touching him, as she worked. She directed healing currents rippling into his body, easing the tension in his strongbody.
So much had ridden on him these last two months. It was the least she coulddo.
He pulled away. “Thanks sweetheart, but you keep that up and something else in me is gonna beaching.”
His smoldering gaze burned into her as he turned. Troy kissed her fingers and gave them a slow lick, indicating exactly what need hehad.
Then he drew in a deep breath, stood and shook his hands. “Getting harder and harder to restrain myself around you, Jenny. But like I told you from the first night we met, you set the pace. I would never force you or seduceyou.”
Jenny felt a lick of heat between her legs. She felt the same. But now was not the time to entertain thoughts of Troy in bed with her or here on the forest floor, as they surrendered to theirpassions.
She changed the subject. “Why are you so interested in thisranch?”
He stood and paced. “This place is a hell of lot more peaceful than other ranches I’ve seen in my travels across the country. Worked at a couple of ranches and I have skills they can use. Most of all, I feel this is the safest place for both ofus.”
Maybe he truly did wish to stay here – forgood.
Deciding to test that theory, she gestured in the direction of the rustic cabin they’d slept in two nights ago. Seemed more like an emergency snow shelter than a place where someone would live, which made it abandoned in summer and ideal forthem.
Sure, it was comfortable. They took turns keeping watch, but she’d fallen asleep on hers, only to wake up and see him standing guard. The cabin had been near trees smelling of wildwolves.
“The cabin does have good points. It’s isolated and better than sharing space with Skins.” Jenny watched his face. “Or a Lupinepack.”
Troy fished an apple out of the grocery bag, climbed onto a nearby rock and bit the apple. He chewed slowly, taking his time as if relishing thefruit.
“The pack on this ranch lookeddecent.”
She finished her apple and put it into an empty plastic bag, mindful of other predators, like bears. “So what are you saying, Troy? You want to settle here and this isn’t merely a friendlyvisit?”
His brown gaze remained steady. “I say we stay a spell to check out the place. See what it’s all about. What they’re all about. I’m tired of roaming,Jenny.”
Guilt stabbed her, tightening her stomach. Felt like a freight train rumbling through her body. Her fault. She’d been the one sleeping blissfully on the bed while he kept watch. They’d both worked hard in Bozeman, but he did twice the work and put in more hours at the lumber yard, lifting and hauling heavy loads forcustomers.
For the first time, she felt inclined to say what was in her heart. Jenny gathered hercourage.
“I never did thank you, Troy, for all you’ve done for me. You’ve saved my life more than once. You’re the best friend I ever had. It’s been comforting having you here withme.”
For a moment he said nothing, studying the apple in his hand. When he raised his gaze, she couldn’t readhim.
Not like before. Seemed as if he hidsomething.
Despite the churning in her stomach, she pressed on. “I guess if you want to stay here, check things out, that’s fine. It would be good to stay in one place for a fewdays.”
“More than a few days.” His deep voice warned he wouldn’t be pushed into anythingelse.
She thought quickly. “There’s plenty of game here, and we can avoidothers…”
“Not as wolves, Jenny. In human skin. I plan to find this Aiden Mitchell, introduce myself and get hired on to see how it goes. Maybe stay for good if things workout.”
