Chapter 9 - Reiner

The Forresters prepared a full feast for dinner, and Jane and I saved it just in time.

“Thank god,” Jane says, looking over the smoldering grill. “I think it’s salvageable.”

Glancing over her shoulder, I take in the sight. They’ve got chicken, ribs, sausage, and steaks. “What are you feeding, an army?” I ask, and she laughs.

“Aunt Gwen always gets carried away when we have guests. She loves to cook, and she loves to feed people.”

“What if I was a vegetarian? You’d have a lot of leftovers.”

She snorts. “I doubt that. You’re a shifter, and we’re carnivores. I’ve never met a vegetarian shifter.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” I tease.

“Well, it’s a good thing you’re not a vegetarian,” she says, nudging me. “Because my aunt would be devastated.”

“I’m not one to turn down a home-cooked meal.”

“Good,” she says, and her smile is so bright as she hands me a big roasting pan. “Here, hold this.”

She piles the meat into the dish, and once she’s collected it all, she takes it from me and leads me back inside. Jack is right where I left him, entertaining her family. It was a good call, bringing him here. He and Jane’s aunt and uncle seemed to hit it off.

Jack’s always been much more outgoing than me, and he’s definitely the charmer. He can talk to anyone, and he doesn’t have a problem opening up. Me, on the other hand… well, that’s a different story. I’ve never been one for small talk, and I’ve never been one for sharing my feelings.

I’m not a big fan of talking about my past, either. I’ve never been able to open up about my parents’ murder. Jack’s the only one who knows the full story, and that’s only because he was there. Jane is the first person I’ve ever opened up to about it, and I don’t know why I did. Maybe it’s because I feel connected to her, like we’re similar in many ways. Or maybe it’s because I’m just tired of holding in the pain and the grief.

“Food’s ready,” Jane announces, and her aunt and uncle are quick to jump up and follow her into the kitchen.

They’ve already set the table, and Jane places the pan filled with meat in the center of the table while Gwen serves up the sides. Richard takes his seat at the head of the table and gestures for Jack and me to sit down.

“I’m afraid we don’t have a lot of space,” he comments. “Not that we’re ungrateful for the trailers your pack provided for us, mind you. It just takes some getting used to when you’re accustomed to having a large house and a big yard.”

“I can imagine,” Jack replies. “Reiner and I had the pleasure of visiting Stardust Hollow during the swap last year. It was quite a town. Very beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Richard says, grinning. “We’re very proud of it.”

“Did you enjoy your visit, Reiner?” Gwen asks as she sits down across from him.

Jane’s gaze flicks to me, and she clenches her jaw. No doubt, she’s remembering how awful I treated her that night at the bar, but she doesn’t say anything.

“It was… interesting,” I reply, and Jane scoffs.

“That’s one way to put it,” she mutters.

“Oh, I’m sure you boys had a great time,” Gwen says. “It’s been such fun, hasn’t it, introducing our packs to one another’s way of life? Sort of like a foreign exchange program for shifters. I’m just glad we have the opportunity to meet you.”

“Us too,” Jack agrees. “And thanks again for having us over. Dinner is delicious.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble,” Richard says. “It’s not every day we have the chance to meet our niece’s intended, and it’s so nice to have a house full of people. We’ve missed having a full table.”

At the word “intended,” I nearly choke on my water. Jack gives me a look, and I clear my throat. “Sorry. Water went down the wrong pipe.”

Jane smirks at me from across the table, and I duck my head down, concentrating on the mountain of meat on my plate.

After dinner, Gwen suggests we all sit down and watch a movie together. She and Richard have a huge collection of DVDs, filled with lots of old movies from the ‘70s and ‘80s. They’re both huge fans of Clint Eastwood, and they’ve got almost every film he’s ever made.

“What’s your favorite Clint Eastwood movie?” Richard asks me as he and Gwen search through the rows of cases.

“Mine’s Dirty Harry ,” I say, and he grins.

“That’s a good one,” he agrees. “But mine’s The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly . Have you seen it?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“You haven’t?” he gasps, and I shake my head. “Well, we’ll have to fix that. Here, let’s watch this one.”

“Sounds good to me,” Jack says.

Gwen pops the disc in, and she and Richard settle next to Jack on the couch. I take a seat in the chair, and Jane plops down on my lap, throwing her arms around my neck.

“You’re in my seat,” she teases.

“You’re sitting on me,” I tease back, and she laughs.

“I can’t believe you’ve never seen The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly ,” she says. “It’s a classic.”

“I’m not really a movie person.”

“Yeah, but it’s Clint Eastwood. How can you not be a fan?”

“Oh, I am. I just haven’t seen this one.”

She shakes her head. “Well, you’re in for a treat. It’s one of his best.”

The movie starts, and I try to pay attention, I really do, but I’m distracted by Jane’s weight in my lap. Every time she moves, I get a whiff of her hair, and it’s driving me crazy. Her scent is so sweet, so intoxicating, and I can’t resist the urge to lean in and inhale.

She shifts in my lap, and I grip her hips, steadying her.

“Sorry,” she whispers, and I grunt in response.

“It’s okay,” I say, and I’m surprised by the gruffness in my voice.

The hem of her skirt is riding up, and if I wasn’t wearing pants, her creamy thighs would be pressing against my bare skin. My cock is rock-hard, and I’m pretty sure she can feel it.

“Are you okay?” she asks, and I nod.

“Yeah,” I say, clearing my throat. “Why?”

“You’re really tense,” she says.

“I’m fine,” I reply, and she arches a brow at me. “Really, I am.”

“Okay,” she says, and she turns her attention back to the TV.

I try to do the same, but it’s difficult, and I’m finding it hard to concentrate. I can’t seem to focus on anything other than Jane, and her ass is right there, pressed against my cock. I can’t help it, she’s just too fucking sexy.

By the time the movie is over, I don’t even remember what it was about, and I’m pretty sure I fell asleep for the last half of it. Now that it’s over, we’re all sitting around the coffee table, and her family is still sandwiching Jack on the sofa. From the way Richard leans in, resting his elbows on his knees, I’m pretty sure I know what’s coming.

The inquisition. Oh, hell.

“So, Reiner,” her uncle begins. “Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do for a living? You said you and Jack are brothers, right?”

“No, not brothers,” I correct. “We’re cousins. But we grew up together, and we’re really close. I’m a welder, and I work in town in the old industrial district. It’s not much, but it pays the bills.”

“I’m sure it’s a very respectable job,” Gwen says. “And what about your family? You mentioned that Jack is all you have left?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply. This time, I’m going to keep my cool. “My parents died a long time ago, and I don’t have any siblings.”

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that,” her uncle says. “But it’s nice to know you have someone. Family is very important, and I’m glad you and Jack have each other.”

“Thank you,” I reply.

“You know, Jane has a real talent for baking,” Gwen beams. “She’s always been good in the kitchen.”

The corner of my mouth quirks up, and I recall the first day I met Jane at that bar in Stardust Hollow when she had that sugar on her face still. “Yes, ma’am. I’ve had the pleasure of sampling her goods.”

Her eyebrows shoot up, and she turns to look at her niece. “Is that so?”

“Smooth,” Jack coughs into his fist. I want to kick his ass.

“No, no!” I hold my hands up in defense of myself. “That’s not what I meant. I mean, I tried some of her baked goods. That’s what I meant.”

Jane lets out an amused little giggle, and I glare at her. “What?” she says. “I’m not the one who made it sound dirty.”

“You’re not helping,” I growl.

“I’m not trying to,” she retorts, and I can’t help but laugh at the feistiness in her eyes.

“It’s all right,” Gwen chuckles, and she seems genuinely pleased. “She taught herself that, you know. She’s always loved to bake, and she’s very good at it.”

Looking around the room, it’s pretty evident that these two love their niece. Sure, they are a bit pushy and nosy, but I can tell they have nothing but the best intentions. At every opportunity, they gush about her, and it’s obvious that they’re proud of her.

Something akin to jealousy bubbles up inside me. I can’t help it. I’ve never had what Jane has. I’ve never had a loving, doting family, at least not since my parents died. Of course, the alpha was good to me after he took me in, but it wasn’t the same. Gwen and Richard seem to treat Jane like a daughter, and I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to have that.

But then Jane wiggles her ass against me, and all those thoughts fly right out the window. Her heat radiates through her jeans, and I’m instantly hard again.

Shit. I have to think of something else, anything else.

“So, Piper is your daughter, huh?” I don’t miss the squeak in my voice, but I pretend to. “It must’ve been hard when she moved to Green Lake to marry Rafe. I’m sure you miss her.”

“It was,” Richard concedes. “But she’s happy, and that’s all that matters.”

“Plus, you know, they come to visit often,” Gwen adds.

“We love having her here,” Jack says. “She’s a great girl.”

“Well, we sure think so,” Jane agrees.

“These girls were inseparable growing up, you know. Just like sisters. A lot like you and Jack, it seems. They were always getting into trouble,” Richard chuckles.

Gwen sighs. “Those were the days.”

I glance at my phone to check the time, and when I notice it’s almost eleven, I clear my throat. “Oh, wow. I had no idea it was so late. Jack, we should probably head out. Let these guys get to bed.”

Jane climbs off my lap, and I stand up, adjusting my slacks and praying they have enough give to keep my boner hidden.

“Nonsense,” her uncle says. “You boys are more than welcome to stay the night. We have plenty of room. You know how dangerous it can be out there so late.”

Gwen nods. “Besides, we have a very special breakfast tradition, and now that you boys are part of the family, we’d love for you to join us.”

“Oh no, it’s quite all right,” I say quickly. “We─”

“Nonsense,” Gwen insists. “Reiner, you can stay with Jane in her room, and Jack, I can make up the couch for you. It’s a pull-out.”

“That’s very nice of you, but I don’t want to intrude,” I argue.

“You’re not intruding,” Richard says. “You’re family now, and we’d love to have you.”

Family.

The word hangs in the air, and I’m not sure how to respond.

“Okay, well, if you’re sure,” I relent, and I’m not sure why I say it. I don’t know why I’m agreeing. I should be running for the hills. The truth is, I’m not certain I can sleep next to Jane and be respectful of her family’s hospitality.