Chapter 11 - Liz

I push open the door to the animal shelter, my heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Leah was kind enough to set me up with this job, and I can”t wait to meet everyone and get started.

As I step inside, Leah greets me with a warm smile. ”Right on time. I”m so glad you”re here. Let me introduce you to the team.”

She leads me further into the shelter, and I follow, taking in my surroundings as she rambles on about how much she loves working here. She takes me through a small break room before we arrive at the back of the building, where we find two young women. They”re dressed in identical pink scrubs, and they look to be in their early twenties, give or take. The pair of them chat as they wipe down a large metal table.

”Greta and Julie, this is Liz. She”s going to be joining our team today.”

”Pleased to meet you,” the shorter brunette, Greta, greets me as she offers her hand for a shake.

“Yeah, hi,” the taller, more energetic blonde adds. “Welcome to the team. Leah”s been telling us all about you. We”re excited to have you join us.”

”Thank you. It”s nice to meet you both.” I smile at the pair. ”And thank you for the opportunity.”

A quick sniff tells me they”re shifters, too. I wonder how many other pack members work here.

“These ladies are our vet techs,” Leah explains. “We have a vet in the area who does voluntary sterilizations for us, and these girls help with the examinations and keeping up with all the vaccinations. We have a whole team of them working here. We also have some volunteers who come in during certain times. And let”s see, what else do we have?” Leah grins.

”Can we show her around?” Julie asks. ”We want to meet this elusive woman who snagged your big brother.”

”I don”t know if I”d say I snagged him,” I reply with a smile, but my heart”s fluttering with nervousness.

”That”s all right,” Leah mercifully intervenes. ”I”ll show her the ropes. You two have enough to do.”

A gentleman steps into the room. Human, if my nose can be trusted, and he offers me his hand. ”And who is this lovely creature?”

”I”m Liz,” I say, shaking the stranger”s hand.

”I”m Justin. I’m the guy who works with the more difficult strays that come in here. Nice to meet you, Liz. Heard you”re Leah”s new recruit. Welcome aboard.”

”Thanks, Justin. I”m excited to be here,” I reply, feeling a bit more at ease.

”I assume you”re going to be helping out with the animals?”

”If it”s all right with you.”

”You bet,” he says with a smile. ”They always need help with the cleaning. I can show you to the kennels once you”re all settled.”

Leah smiles and gives me a nudge, looking pleased with herself. I nod my thanks, grateful for her efforts. As we move through the facility, Leah continues the introductions, leading me to a cheerful young woman with vibrant red hair named Sarah. ”Sarah”s our go-to person for all things feline,” Leah informs me.

Sarah waves, her eyes twinkling. ”Hi, Liz! Leah”s told us all about you. Can”t wait to work together!”

”Me too, Sarah. Cats are amazing,” I say, feeling a connection already forming.

Next, Leah introduces me to an older man named Tom, who has a gentle demeanor and a calming presence. ”Tom”s in charge of the small animals and birds,” she explains.

”It”s a pleasure to meet you, Liz,” Tom says warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiles. ”If you need anything, just let me know.”

”Thank you, Tom. I appreciate it,” I say, grateful for the warm welcome.

As we continue the tour, Leah shows me around the different sections of the shelter, explaining my duties and responsibilities. She points out the feeding and cleaning routines, the medical area, and the outdoor play areas for the dogs.

”You”ll be assisting with feeding, cleaning, and also helping with the adoption process,” Leah says, her voice filled with enthusiasm. ”It”s a lot to take in, but don”t worry. Everyone here is super supportive, and you”ll get the hang of it in no time.”

I nod, feeling a mixture of excitement and determination. ”I can”t wait to get started, Leah. Thanks for showing me around and introducing me to everyone.”

”Of course, Liz. We”re thrilled to have you on the team,” Leah replies, her smile genuine and encouraging. ”It”s feeding time. Why don”t you go ahead and get started in the cat room? There”s a clipboard on the wall that indicates which cats get what food. Some have dietary needs, so be sure to follow it. Just grab me or Sarah if you have any questions, okay?”

”Sounds good,” I agree with a nod. ”Thank you, Leah. I really appreciate all this.”

”We”re happy to have you here.” She grins. ”Go get ”em, tiger!”

As Leah disappears down the hallway, I step into the cat room. There are cages and pens everywhere, containing various types of felines of all ages. My gaze roams over a small black kitten and its mother, a pair of tabby cats, and a gray-striped one.

The sight of them, with their curious eyes and twitching tails, should be enough to pull me into the moment. But instead, my mind keeps wandering back to that unexpected kiss with Fisher in his yard.

I mean, sure, I”ve always found him attractive. Who wouldn”t? But I”ve never lost control like that before. The intensity of our connection, the desire that bubbled to the surface—it was overwhelming. And the fact that we almost got carried away right out in the open, where anyone could see us, mortifies me.

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts as I grab the clipboard Leah mentioned. Scanning the list, I see the dietary needs of each cat are carefully noted. Focus, Liz, focus. I pick up a bowl and start portioning out the appropriate food for each cage, trying to immerse myself in the task at hand, but it”s no use.

I can”t seem to keep my thoughts from straying back to the way Fisher’s hands felt as he touched my body, to the way his lips moved against mine, to the heat that surged between us. It”s like I can still feel him pressed against me, his body against mine, his hands on my skin. My cheeks flush at the memory. I”m trying to remain professional and focused, but my body is reacting to the memory like a magnet. I squeeze my legs together, trying to suppress the desire that”s welled up inside me.

The strangest part is, even though we didn”t actually have sex, it”s still the most erotic thing I”ve ever experienced. Of course, I”ve had sex before, but I”ve never been so lost in it. I”ve never been so desperate for someone. And now, with my emotions running so high, it”s only making it worse. I have a feeling if I had let it go any further, I would”ve found myself addicted to his touch. Nothing I”ve experienced has come close to that little taste I had of Fisher, and that scares the hell out of me.

I swallow hard, trying to regain my composure as I finish feeding the cats. With all the distractions in my head, I”m grateful to have something to do. Maybe work will help keep me busy. And hopefully, I can avoid Fisher until we figure out a way to move forward.

After the cat room, I”m introduced to the volunteers, a couple of human women who come in during certain times. Leah leads me to the small construction area where they”re working on expanding the shelter.

”The building isn”t big enough for all the animals we have here,” she explains, ”so we”re expanding the existing facility. I have to run over to the lumberyard to check on all the materials they”re supposed to send over next week. Care to join me?”

”Isn”t that where Fisher works?” I ask, hesitating.

Leah chuckles, and I realize I must sound desperate. ”Don”t worry, he”ll be there.” She flashes a playful grin, and I blush, feeling self-conscious.

Leah leads me out of the shelter and towards her car. The sun is high in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything. I can”t help but feel a knot of apprehension tighten in my stomach as we drive. Our destination isn”t just Fisher”s workplace; it”s a direct portal to the source of my distraction.

The scent of freshly cut wood fills my nostrils as we pull up to the lumberyard. There”s a large, brand-new warehouse surrounded by trucks loaded with materials. There are smaller buildings and warehouses as well, some with heavy equipment parked outside.

As we step out of the car, it takes me all of ten seconds to spot Fisher in the distance, shirtless and hard at work. My gaze travels over the broad expanse of his back, taking in his rippling muscles as he lifts a heavy log onto his shoulder, the way he flexes his biceps as he maneuvers the lumber, his thick thighs straining beneath the weight. Sweat glistens on his skin as he shifts the logs into position.

My cheeks flush, and I swallow hard, trying not to focus on my reaction to his presence. This is ridiculous. I”m married to the guy, for crying out loud. I should be able to look at him without being all gaga. But the way his muscles strain and flex makes me ache for them, wonder how they”d feel if they were pressed against me.

He looks up, and our eyes meet. For a moment, he freezes like a deer in headlights, his gaze locked on mine. He gives me a tentative smile that does little to assuage my anxiety, and then he wipes his forehead with the back of his hand as he saunters over, looking like a damn god. I feel a flutter in my stomach as my heart begins racing.

”Hi,” he greets. ”What brings you by? Everything all right?”

”Hi,” I say, doing my best to maintain my composure. ”Leah brought me by to check on the supplies for shelter.”

”Uh, Leah”s standing right here,” Leah teases, elbowing her brother in the side.

”Hi, Leah.” He rolls his eyes, but I can see the playful glint in them. ”Good to see you. What can I do for you?”

”Thought Liz might benefit from seeing where the materials for our renovation are coming from,” Leah explains, tossing me a wink. ”Plus, I need to chat with your boss about the delivery.”

”Let me go find him for you,” Fisher says, moving toward the warehouse.

”No, no,” Leah objects. ”I know the way. Why don”t you give Liz a tour while I sort through the details?”

Fisher looks to me for confirmation, and I nod, biting back a smile as my heart skips a beat. “I”d like that,” I say.

”Great,” Leah says, a triumphant gleam in her eye. ”Then it”s settled. Fisher, take your wife on a tour.”

With that, Leah makes her way towards the warehouse, leaving Fisher and me alone. Fisher gestures for me to follow him, and he leads me through the maze of towering stacks of lumber. I follow his lead, and my gaze lingers on his body as we walk, admiring the way he moves.

”So, this is where the magic happens,” he says, his voice tinged with pride. ”We get shipments in daily, and it”s our job to sort, cut, and prepare the wood for our clients.”

The lumberyard is a hive of activity, with workers operating forklifts, cutting wood, and assembling orders. Fisher explains each process with enthusiasm. As we make our way around the lumberyard, I get a sense of what Fisher”s life is like—how hard his work is, and how much he loves it. The more I see, the more I begin to understand what he does. What he gives to this town.

”As you can see, it”s not as simple as it looks,” he says, pausing to wipe his hands on a rag. His arm muscles ripple with every movement. ”Every piece of wood has a purpose, and it”s our job to make sure it meets our client”s expectations.”

”Impressive,” I say, genuinely intrigued by the intricacies of his job.

Fisher smiles, pleased by my interest. ”Wanna see the cutting machine in action?”

”Sure,” I agree. ”Show me what you”ve got.”

He leads me to a large machine that”s whirring and clanking, and as we approach, Fisher turns and stands directly in front of me. The heat between us crackles as his body brushes against mine, and I can feel the energy pulsating between us. He”s so close, I can smell his woodsy scent mixed with sweat, and the effect is overwhelming. I breathe in deeply, relishing the masculine smell of him, and I”m suddenly overcome by the desire for him to pull me into his arms.

I gasp as Fisher leans in from behind, and his lips brush against my ear. ”This is one of the newer machines. We don”t use it very often, but it”s pretty cool, don”t you think?” His warm breath sends shivers down my spine, and a rush of heat pools between my thighs.

”Uh-huh,” I whisper, trying to keep my composure as my body begins to tremble with desire.

”So,” he whispers in my ear, sending a bolt of heat down to my core, ”what do you think of the machines we use here?”

”It”s really... fascinating,” I stammer, unable to form a complete sentence.

”Yeah?” Fisher murmurs, pressing closer as he rests his fingers on my hips, pulling me back against him. My breath catches in my throat as I feel the hard length of him pressing against my backside. He leans down, pressing his lips to my neck, and I moan softly at the sensation. I glance around the room, making sure there aren”t any other people around, but it”s just us. It”s just me and my husband.

He begins kissing along my neck, sucking gently at my pulse, and I know I should stop him. This is crazy, what we”re doing. We”re in public, for crying out loud, and there”s no telling who could come along at any moment. But then he bites down gently on my neck, and the sensation sends a wave of desire through my body. And as much as I want to stop him, I just don”t have the strength.

I press my back against his chest, feeling his hands slide down my sides as I let out a soft moan. I lean back against him as he presses himself against me. My head falls back against his shoulder, and he moans in response, his fingers moving under my waistline to grip my hips, holding me still against him.

”Do you want me to stop?” he murmurs in my ear, his voice hoarse with lust.

I hesitate, trying to gather the strength to tell him yes. But instead, I whimper, ”No.”

He groans, pulling me even closer as he begins to grind against me, his erection pressing into my ass. ”God, I”ve wanted you so badly.”

”Me too,” I breathe, my body shaking with need as I move against him. I”ve never wanted anything more in my life. All rational thought has left my mind, leaving only one thing on my mind—the need to feel him inside me.

As if readying my thoughts, he whips me around, moves his hands under my ass, and lifts me into the air just to put me back down onto the surface of a nearby table. I”m sitting on the table, and he”s standing in front of me, his cock bulging in his jeans. His fingers find their way to the hem of my dress, and he tugs at my panties. I lift my hips, and he yanks them down around my ankles.

His lips are on mine in an instant. The kiss is hot and desperate as he grips my thighs, lifting my legs, then rests my ankles on his shoulders. He leans forward, pushing my legs back toward my chest, opening me up for him. He moans softly as he buries his face between my thighs. My body jerks with surprise, and I nearly slip off the table before I regain my balance.

I feel his hot breath on my thighs before he begins lapping at my slit with the tip of his tongue, tracing around my opening. He presses his mouth against me, and I gasp as I feel his tongue press inside me. His fingers dig into my thighs as he begins thrusting his tongue into me. I grab the edge of the table with both hands, holding on for dear life as I let out a low moan of pleasure.

I throw my head back and gasp as he continues licking and sucking, the sensations driving me crazy. It”s too much and not enough, all at the same time. I squeeze my thighs around his head, pulling him closer to my core. He responds by groaning, and the vibration from the sound shoots through my body like lightning.

He slips his fingers inside me, thrusting his digits in and out in time with the movements of his tongue. My whole body is trembling with pleasure, and I squeeze my eyes shut as it builds to a fever pitch. I”m moaning uncontrollably, unable to form a single coherent thought, let alone a coherent sentence. My blood is on fire, and I”m writhing with need, desperate for more.

The pressure builds in my core until I can”t take it anymore. With a gasp, my release crashes over me. I moan and writhe on the table as Fisher works me through my orgasm. Wave after wave of ecstasy washes over my body, and it feels like I”m floating in a sea of pleasure. I feel like I”m in a dream, floating among the stars.

After the sensations die down, I lie there, panting, completely exhausted. But as soon as I catch my breath, I feel Fisher”s lips on my inner thigh. I open my eyes and glance down to find him staring up at me, a grin on his face. His face is shiny with my juices, and he licks his lips. He rises to his feet and stands in front of me, leaning down to press his mouth against mine in a searing kiss. His tongue brushes my bottom lip, and I moan softly into his mouth. He tastes like me, and the idea thrills me.

He breaks the kiss, and I can see the need in his eyes. He reaches for his zipper, and my pulse quickens as he lowers it. I”m ready for him to fill me, to give me everything I desire. But just as Fisher begins to undo his belt, he”s interrupted.

”Oh, I”m so sorry!”

We both freeze. I turn my head toward the door and see a man standing in the doorway, a look of shock on his face. My cheeks flush as I realize we”re caught, and I quickly try to pull up my underwear. Fisher moves to shield me from his view.

”Mr. Winters,” Fisher says with a nod of greeting, trying to sound nonchalant as he straightens up.

”Fisher, I didn”t mean to interrupt.” His voice sounds nervous as he looks from me to Fisher. ”But I thought I heard...” He swallows, his Adam”s apple bobbing nervously.

”Yeah,” Fisher replies with a sigh, running his hand through his hair. He gives me a guilty look before he turns back to the other man. ”I”m sorry you had to see that, Mr. Winters.”

”It”s no problem, Fisher,” the man says. ”I”ll just...” He trails off, glancing around awkwardly.

”Of course.” Fisher nods. ”Thank you.”

”Excuse me.” Mr. Winters clears his throat as he steps outside and closes the door behind him.

As soon as the door shuts behind him, Fisher turns to me. ”Shit. I”m so sorry.”

I open my mouth, but I can”t speak, my tongue suddenly feels too heavy. I”m a mix of embarrassed and turned on, and I don”t know which emotion is winning.

Fisher puts a finger under my chin, and he forces my eyes to meet his. His expression is filled with regret. ”Are you okay?”

I nod, too shaken to speak. My pulse is racing, and I can feel the heat between my thighs.

He sighs, his face clouding with sadness. ”I”m sorry, Liz. This shouldn”t have happened.”

”I”m fine,” I manage, but my voice lacks conviction.

”I”ll take you home,” he says, helping me off the table. He pulls my panties back up my legs, and I resist the urge to moan as he slides them back into place. He zips up his pants and buckles his belt as he looks at me, his gaze filled with regret. ”This is all my fault. I should never have...”

”It”s fine,” I insist, though my voice shakes. I”m feeling dizzy and overwhelmed. I should feel angry or embarrassed, but all I can think about is what happened. ”Just forget about it. We both have to get back to work, anyway. See you at home later?” I don”t mean for it to sound like an invitation, but that”s how it comes out.

He nods, looking more guilty than I”ve ever seen him look. I reach out and brush a lock of his hair back. I feel so drawn to him that I can”t help but lean in and kiss him. I brush my lips against his, gently at first, then deeper. It”s a kiss filled with longing and regret, and it”s so intimate. But it”s over before it can go any further, and as we pull apart, I see his eyes flutter closed, his brow furrowing in agony.

He sighs and turns away, running his hand through his hair. With that, he”s gone, leaving me alone in the empty warehouse, a mix of emotions swirling around inside me.