Chapter Thirteen

Jemma woke alone with her body feeling deliciously sore. She vaguely remembered Brock murmuring in her ear, but she had no idea what. Most likely, he’d gotten called away to deal with something. After lying there for a few minutes, she rolled out of bed and headed to the shower. She’d get cleaned up and see if she could find him.

She gasped when she caught her appearance in the mirror. She had bite marks and hickeys all over her breasts and along her hips and thighs. Turning, she found more on her ass. He’d certainly marked his territory. She laughed at that. If she’d known how it would feel to mate Brock Holloway, she might have convinced herself to try sooner. Probably not, though. The man lit her fuse like no one else. She realized now it was most likely because his opinion mattered to her. Even when she’d sworn it didn’t.

She took her time in the shower, letting the hot water flow over her. There was bodywash, but she was reluctant to remove Brock’s scent from her skin. Still, if she did, she had a feeling he’d make sure to mark her all over again when they were in his bed later. She shampooed her hair twice then lathered the loofah and cleansed from head to toe. Maybe, she was hoping he’d appear and join her, but it didn’t happen. Finally, she stepped out, toweled dry, then found a blow dryer under the sink. After drying her hair, she put her clothes back on and debated for far too long on whether to make the bed or strip it. In the end, she left the sheets in a pile just inside the door before she headed out.

Her intention was to head toward the main cabin and see if she could find her mate. Helen found her first, and she was grinning wide.

“You look like a woman who’s been fucked within an inch of her life. Or several long, thick inches if you’re a lucky girl.”

Jemma’s jaw dropped open, but as soon as Helen started snickering, she laughed.

“Your face says it all, but yes?” Helen prompted.

“Yes,” Jemma agreed, and the other woman whooped, jumping in the air before hugging Jemma.

“I’m so happy for you. This means you’re staying, right?”

Jemma nodded. She couldn’t see Brock leaving his brothers, and really the tension between the two of them was the only reason she’d been ready to go anyway.

“I was on my way to find him.”

“He’s in a meeting with the rest of his brothers and Holt. Fletch went to check on Jasper, and Muriel said Em stopped in and told her Brock left you sleeping in one of the honeymoon cabins. I thought I’d come find you and drag you to my house for dinner. Milo and Ryan are bringing pizza. It’ll be my mate and me, Milo, Ryan, Roman, and Thomas.”

“Wait? When did Roman get here? I thought he was the brother still in Washington?” Jemma asked.

“He came in with the group that arrived right after Declan and Xandra. He spent most of the day with Hadley, Sam, and my gorgeous niece. Tonight, he’s hanging out with the rest of us. Except for Thad. Megan’s been anxious since the attack. He’s staying in with her.”

Megan was quiet and reserved. Jemma had no idea what the other woman had been through, but knowing the hands she’d been kept in, Jemma understood it was nothing good.

“I hate that she’s dealing with that. Hell, that so many of the recently rescued woman are.”

Helen was one of those, as well, though the attack hadn’t set her back. Her sister, Hadley, had been captured also but had been separated from her sister and taken to some place in Canada. Hadley had met Megan there. They’d escaped, run into Sam, who turned out to be Hadley’s mate, then gone back to Washington state, where Megan had met Hadley and Helen’s brother, Thad, who turned out to be Megan’s mate. It was crazy how the hands of Fate twisted and turned, bringing light into souls that had known darkness for too long.

“Megan will be okay. She has Thad and Hadley.”

“She has all of us,” Jemma corrected. “Whether she realizes it or not.”

Helen linked their arms and started walking toward the cabin where Jasper was staying. “I’m glad you’ve mated and are staying. Or wait! Did you mate or just…” She wiggled her eyebrows and shimmied her hips. “Or just do the deed?”

“I initiated the vows.”

Helen squealed again. “Yes!”

“Hello, ladies,” Fletch called as he jogged over to join them. He immediately dropped a kiss on his mate’s upturned face before falling into step with them. “Jemma.”

“Fletch.”

He grinned. “Tell me you made him beg.”

She felt her face flush with heat even as Fletch laughed.

“Tell me you didn’t beg!” Helen demanded. “You never beg.”

“Really?” Fletch asked, and it was Helen’s turn to flush. Jemma shook her head and changed the subject.

“Do you know what Brock and the rest of the Holloways are discussing?”

Fletch nodded. “We’re postponing Lawrence Walker’s reckoning until Malachai arrives with Titus Walker.”

“Wait.” Jemma stopped mid-step. “Titus…Walker? Isn’t Titus the one who stepped in as alpha over Em’s old pack? He’s related to Lawrence?”

“His nephew. Malachai doesn’t think Titus was involved at all, though he had his doubts in the beginning. Apparently, Titus wants to join the rest of the den here. Laramie won’t agree until he sees how Titus reacts to Lawrence. He doesn’t want another betrayal from within. He won’t put the den at risk again. Especially with his mate pregnant.” Fletch paused when they hit the gravel clearing in front of his and Milo’s cabins.

It looked like Milo and Ryan had just arrived, and Thomas and another man, who had to be Roman, were helping carry a large quantity of pizza boxes to Fletch and Helen’s cabin.

“How many people are joining you for dinner?” Jemma asked.

“Five male bear shifters,” Helen replied. “Believe me. They can put away pizza. In fact, we better hurry before they get started without us.”

“Hey, gorgeous!” Milo called. “You ready to ditch that mate, yet?”

Jemma laughed at Fletch’s growl.

“Knock it off,” Fletch ordered.

“Who said I was talking to Helen?” Milo asked and winked at Jemma. She had no idea what to say to that.

“He’s teasing you, Jemma. He knows Brock would kill him if he actually hit on you,” Helen assured her.

Milo laughed. “Yeah, no death wishes here.”

“What makes you think he’d care?” Jemma asked as she followed Milo inside. He crossed the room and set the pizza boxes in his hands on the table.

“Brock’s possessive of the things that matter the most to him. Growing up with six other brothers, then Fletch and me, you end up sharing a lot of things. Clothes, toys, you name it.”

“Wait, you and Fletch grew up here, too?” Jemma asked.

“Pretty much,” Milo said.

“There were nine of you?” Jemma couldn’t wrap her mind around that many children, all boys, in one house. She’d been an only child. “How was it?”

“It was pure hell,” Fletch said as he set cans of soda on the table along with bottles of beer.

“And we loved every minute of it,” Milo added.

Fletch snorted but didn’t deny it.

“Have a seat.” Milo held out a chair for her then flopped into the one beside her. Helen sat on her other side, next to Fletch. Her three brothers sat across from them. The newest one leaned over and held his hand out.

“Roman. Nice to meet you.”

“Jemma,” she said automatically.

“Which Holloway are you mated to?” he asked.

She didn’t ask how he knew. “Brock.”

“Which one is he?” Roman asked. “I swear they all look similar.”

“He and Matheus are the youngest brothers,” Milo told him. “They were the ones helping get cabins ready for all the new arrivals.”

Roman nodded.

“Now, let’s eat. I’m starving,” Milo said and started opening boxes and passing them around the table.

Jemma loaded her plate, grabbed a soda, and let the conversation flow around her. The males teased each other, and Helen’s brothers shared embarrassing stories about her as a young girl. It was fun to watch them all interact. Though she’d been with the Holloways for over a year now, she’d never eaten with the family. They usually ate in the kitchen, and she’d never felt as if she’d be welcomed if she’d tried to join them. She’d usually grabbed her food and ate outside where she could be alone. Muriel had joined her once she arrived. Helen had occasionally, as well. Jemma wondered if meals with the Holloways were this entertaining.

Jemma laughed at another story Roman had shared, almost falling out of her seat. Milo caught her and pushed her back into the chair when a growl pulled her attention to the door where Fletch was letting in Brock and Matheus. Her mate didn’t look happy if the glare he shot her way was any indication. She decided to ignore him, thanking Milo before turning back to Helen’s brothers.

“She really coated the steps in baby oil?” Jemma asked.

“Oh, my god! I was eight, and I expected it to be Thad who walked out the backdoor,” Helen replied, wiping the tears from her eyes. She was laughing even harder than Jemma.

Jemma opened her mouth to say something else then found herself squealing when she was lifted. Brock took her spot then set her on his lap. She debated being pissed at his highhandedness, but one look at him and she caved. She leaned in nuzzling his throat before nipping his ear.

“I missed you,” she whispered.

His chest rumbled, and his arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer.

“There’s plenty of pizza left if you’re hungry,” Milo offered as he stood. “Matheus, have a seat. I couldn’t eat another bite. You guys want a beer?”

“Please,” Matheus said, taking the seat beside her and Brock. “How’re you feeling?”

“Good,” she told him.

“Only good,” Brock teased.

“Seeing as I woke up alone. Showered alone. Then—” She broke off with another squeal as Brock stood and tossed her over his shoulder.

“We’ll see you guys later.”

He headed for the door, and Jemma pushed against the small of his back, lifting her head. “Bye, everyone! Thanks for letting me join you for dinner. I had the best time.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Helen called, then Brock was on the porch, bouncing her on his shoulder as he moved quickly through the woods.

“I stripped the sheets off the bed,” she told him, and he pivoted with a growl, moving toward the main house.

“Don’t talk to anyone,” he ordered, giving her ass a smack as he opened the back door then groaned. “Of course, you’re all here.”

Jemma leaned her head to peer around his side. All of the Holloways, except for Jensen and Matheus, were at the table. Em and Laramie sat at the head with Ruby. Koby and Sidia along with Holt and Jaeda sat on one side. Declan and Xandra with Slade and Rissa were on the other. And they were all staring at her and Brock with amusement.

“Why you upside down?” Ruby asked. “You silly, Jemma.” Ruby tilted her head until she was practically sitting on it then grinned. “Hi, Jemma.”

“Hi,” Jemma said with a grin of her own.

“Fuck,” Brock muttered.

“Fuck,” Ruby repeated.

“Brock!” Laramie thundered.

“Ruby!” Em yelled. “We don’t say that word.” She glared at Brock.

“Sorry, kid. Don’t say that word,” Brock told Ruby as he leaned down and slid Jemma off his shoulder. “Now, enjoy dinner. We already ate. We’ll see you at breakfast.”

“You didn’t—” Jemma started to say only to find herself hauled over Brock’s shoulder again, much to Ruby’s giggling delight.

As soon as they cleared the kitchen, Jemma wrapped her arms around his waist, purposely letting her fingers brush over the growing bulge in his jeans. He took the stairs down to his room at a quick trot but managed to keep her from bouncing too much. She rubbed her thumbs along either side of his denim clad erection. He stepped through the door of his room, tossed her on the bed, then shut them in, flipping the lock.

“Strip,” he ordered, already jerking his shirt over his head while he toed off his shoes.

“Don’t you want to eat dinner?” she asked as she sat up and slowly untied her shoes.

“Oh, I plan to.” His gaze zeroed in on the juncture of her thighs. “I plan to gorge myself.”

A shiver went through her as his jeans hit the floor, leaving him completely naked.

“You’re taking too long,” he muttered and grabbed her foot, tugging her to the end of the bed. He had her as naked as he was in a matter of minutes. Then he used her foot to flip her onto her stomach. “Hand and knees.”

“I thought you were going to gorge on me,” she reminded him, glancing over her shoulder as she followed his command.

“Oh, I am.” He went to his knees behind her, pressed her thighs wider, then ran his tongue along her sex. “Delicious, love. Absolutely, fucking delicious.”