Chapter 8

Trish leaned back against the side of the metal tub with a contented sigh, letting the warmth of the water soothe her aching muscles. Holdar had been right - the trough did make a good tub, although it would have been even better if he'd been in it with her. The prospect seemed a lot more likely today than it would have done the day before. Now that they were away from her father's house he seemed so much more approachable - well, a little more approachable anyway - and each new discovery only made him more intriguing.

As did that kiss. She pressed her fingers against her lips as they tingled at the memory. His tusks hadn't turned out to be a problem after all, simply bracketing her mouth with a firm, pleasurable pressure.

Despite her father's overprotectiveness, she had enjoyed some freedom while she was at college - enough to lose her virginity to a baseball player named Todd. She'd never imagined herself in love with him, or he with her, but they'd had fun together before going their separate ways.

Although her time with Todd had been pleasant enough, she'd never felt even half as aroused as she had been by Holdar's kiss. Now her nipples were tingling too and heat curled low in her stomach. She cast a quick glance at the closed door, wondering if she had the nerve to give herself a quick orgasm, knowing he was on the other side of that thin piece of wood.

That knowledge only added to her arousal and her hand was sliding down between her legs when something moved in the undergrowth on the far side of the stream. The shadows had thickened enough that it took her a moment to realize that a man was walking towards her. Then his eyes flashed a bright, unnatural green and she screamed.

Holdar came bursting through the door, positioning himself in front of her as he scanned the woods.

"Who's there?"

"Is that you, Holdar? I heard you were back but I didn't expect to find you here."

The low deep voice had a slow southern drawl and her fear started to drain away as Holdar straightened.

"Aidan? What the fuck are you doing skulking in the woods?"

"I'm a forest ranger. It's my job to skulk in the woods."

Aidan sounded amused as he approached, coming close enough for her to see that he was a big, handsome Other, a werewolf she thought, before Holdar ordered him to stop.

"Stay right there. My female is bathing."

His female?She liked the sound of that a little too much.

"I can see that."

Aidan gave her an appreciative smile, even though she was sure the high walls of the rub shielded her from his view. Holdar growled again, and Aidan held up his hands in mock surrender.

"Relax. I have no intention of poaching on your territory."

"I'm no one's territory. Why don't you both go away?"

Holdar sighed.

"Come around to the front of the shack and we'll have a beer."

"Beer?" she asked as Aidan nodded and made a wide circle to the right.

"My brother was very thorough in outfitting us. Do you want to meet Aidan?"

"As long as I'm dressed."

He flashed a quick glance at her, then groaned and hastily stepped back.

"Take your time, princess."

Despite his words, she hurried through the rest of her bath, casting nervous glances at the rapidly darkening woods. She still felt much better as she dried off and put on a calf-length pink sundress with tiny buttons down the front. At least it fit her reasonably well, only straining a little across her breasts. Then she went to find the two males. They were sitting on the front porch with their beer, and Holdar immediately offered her one.

"No thanks."

She hesitated, then sat down next to him. He didn't seem to mind, putting his arm around her as he shook his head in response to something Aidan said.

"I never pictured Eric as a sheriff."

"Neither did anyone else. And most of the pack aren't too thrilled about it. They think his responsibility to the pack is more important."

"What responsibility is that?"

"They want him to take a mate and start producing the next generation of alphas."

"They're trying to force him to get married?" she asked. "That's terrible."

Aidan shrugged.

"It's tradition. We're big on tradition."

"Including you?"

"To a certain extent. I haven't been able to break free as much as Eric has, but I try to live my own life."

A yawn caught her halfway through her nod and Aidan laughed.

"I think you'd better put your female to bed, Holdar." He crushed his beer can, then placed it neatly against the wall as he stood. "But I'll spread the word to keep an eye out for strangers."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Good night, Holdar's female."

"You can call me -" she started, but Holdar gently squeezed her arm.

They watched in silence as Aidan disappeared into the woods with unnatural stealth, and then she frowned up at him.

"Why didn't you want me to tell him my name? Don't you trust him?"

"I trust him as much as I trust anyone but I don't trust the pack as a whole and I don't want to take a chance on your name slipping out."

A chill skated down her spine. She'd assumed that he'd brought her to Fairhaven Falls to make sure she was out of the way of whatever was happening in Atlanta. She hadn't really considered the possibility that someone might be actively looking for her. His arm tightened around her for a second.

"Don't worry, princess. I told you I'd keep you safe. Now let's get you fed so you can go to bed."

"Alone?"

"Yes, alone," he growled as they entered the shack.

"You called me your female, and you didn't correct Aidan when he did the same thing. Why not?"

"Wolves are territorial so they mostly respect other people's territory."

"I still don't like being called territory," she grumbled, then smiled up at him. "But I'm just fine with being your female."

"Trish," he groaned, cupping her cheek with exquisite tenderness.

She waited expectantly for him to kiss her again, but he stepped back instead, then turned to the stove.

"I'm just making omelets. It won't take long."

The omelets turned out to be excellent, light and fluffy and sprinkled with little bits of crispy bacon. She ate enthusiastically, then gave him a rueful grin.

"If you keep cooking like this none of Pippa's clothes will fit me."

His gaze traced down to the slight gap in the buttons between her breasts.

"That wouldn't bother me at all."

Heat rushed through her and she could see his nostrils flaring as he inhaled her arousal. But he shook his head, then set his jaw in that stubborn line she was beginning to know only too well.

"I'm going to wash the dishes."

"I'll help."

She thought he was going to refuse, but he finally gave an abrupt nod. They worked together as well as they had earlier that day and everything was soon washed and put away. He joined her on the couch and they talked for a while but waves of tiredness kept washing over her. The fourth time she yawned, he laughed and nudged her foot.

"Go to bed, princess. Get some sleep."

"You're always telling me to get some sleep."

"Because you need it. Now go."

This time he stood as well and led her to the bed, pulling back the mosquito next and gesturing for her to enter.

"Just a minute."

She slipped behind the bathroom curtain to brush her teeth and change into the nightgown Pippa had given her. At home she had twenty different types of cleaners and lotions. Here she had to settle for soap and water, followed by a drugstore brand of moisturizer. But when she pushed back the curtain and saw Holdar waiting for her, she didn't miss them at all.

This time she climbed obediently into bed, then smiled up at him.

"Aren't you going to kiss me good night?"