Patient Mates: (Book 7 Grey Wolf Pack Romance Novellas) Read online

  She spun round to see her honey walking into the Diner with the serious looking Deputy Jake. Gabe smiled at her. God he could outshine the sun! And damn if he didn’t look edible in his uniform.

  Maybe she was a little bias but Gabe sure did fill out that uniform better than anyone else could. The tight fit accentuated his lean frame and taut muscles, not to mention how it accentuated a certain bulge in his trousers…

  Kira shuddered as mischievous thoughts flitted through her mind. It occurred to her she’d never really desired a man in the way she desired Gabe. Maybe for the best.

  “Hey Kira.”

  “Hey Gabe.” She cooed in response.

  Her wolf was all for leaping on him and kissing the life out of him but perhaps he may not appreciate that while he was on duty.

  “How’s your day been?”

  Kira beamed. “Hmmm quiet mostly. The highlight has been when an elderly human lady came in and started yelling at some pups, something about stealing eggs.”

  Gabe groaned exaggeratedly. “Let me guess the woman had a blue rinse and all the pups were about six foot or more and had blonde hair.”

  “Wow! You should be a cop you’re good!” Kira snickered.

  “Nah, I’m just used to living in this mad town. So no problems today?”

  Kira shook her head. Today the bobcat Deputy Hardison was staying with Lilah. Kira had managed to get Gabe to reluctantly agree that she didn’t need babysitting at work, so other than a ride to and from her temporary home she was on her own all day. The Sheriff’s station was right next door after all.

  Jake stood by fidgeting, waiting impatiently for Gabe who was taking no notice of him. Gabe carefully scanned the quiet Diner. He nodded to a table full of pack members. He was surprised to note that the pack tracker Don was back, he was supposed to be gone a lot longer.

  He flicked his eyes round nonchalantly forcing himself not to linger on the person he was looking for. Albert Peterson.

  On seeing Gabe Peterson hunched over a little and looked away so the wolf would not see his face. After a few seconds the man threw down some bills on his table and made a circuitous route out of the Diner, as far away from Gabe as possible.

  On seeing the fidgety little man leaving Jake cleared his throat.

  Gabe winked at Kira. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Bye.”

  Kira practically drooled watching his firm butt as he strode away. What she wouldn’t give just to touch him… okay down puppy.

  It wasn’t her fault, it had been a long time since she last had sex. And that had been disappointing to say the least. Kira was surprised to realize how horny she was!

  As a wolf she still had the urges to mate, breed and fight but they were duller than other wolves, because she was more attuned to her other feelings. She was less of an animal than other she-wolves. Not that it mattered… okay yes it did make her feel a little superior that she could control her baser impulses better than the stuck up she-wolves who tortured her in high school. But before she’d never had a delectable wolf to contend with…

  “Earth to Kira!”

  Kira almost darted up the wall on finding Carly standing next to her. Oh god had she actually been drooling over Gabe’s butt?!

  “Oh… ummm… I was just…”

  “Ummm hmmm.” Carly gave her a maddening smile and waggled her eyebrows.

  Kira searched her mind for a good response. In the absence of one she gave Carly a raspberry and stomped away. The guffaws of the other Omega floating behind her.

  *

  Albert Peterson hurried to his car fumbling with the keys. He yelped and dropped his keys as an enormous hand gripped his shoulder. He turned to find a very tall, very broad black Deputy clamped to his shoulder.

  Gabe bent down and scooped up the keys, jangling them in his hand. “Hello again. No more car trouble I see.”

  “Uhh… no.”

  Gabe grinned at him. “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself the other night. I’m Deputy Gabe North and this is my fellow Deputy and pack mate Jake Foreman.”

  The larger and sterner Jake gave Albert a brief nod whilst squeezing his shoulder. Albert winced.

  “You on your way to visit your brother?”

  Albert looked between the two wolves with some trepidation. “Ummm… no.”

  “How is your brother?” Asked Gabe concernedly.

  “Oh… he… he’s doing much better thank you.”

  Gabe fiddled with the keys. “Glad to hear it. Hey is he still working as a delivery guy for that company ‘Wolf Mail’? He works for the Charming pack right?”

  Albert turned beet red and started stammering. But that was nothing. When he saw the burly Alpha and Beta approaching he almost had a fit.

  Adam gave him a glacial smile. “Why don’t we go into the Sheriff’s station and have a chat.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Gabe tapped on the window to the Diner and Kira ran over to open the door, her wolf figuratively wagging her tail. Swiftly she pulled him inside, locked the door and smothered him was a kiss.

  She twinkled. “I’ve been dying to do that all day.”

  Gabe kissed the tip of her nose. “Well I’m glad I could oblige, can’t have you dying on me.” He smoothed his hands down his torso. “I mean I know this body is to die for…”

  Kira threw a dish towel at him and started singing ‘You’re so vain’.

  Gabe warmed at seeing his mate swinging her hips as she sashayed around the Diner. “You ready to go?”

  “Uh huh, I need another ten minutes. Deedee had to duck out so I said I’d finish cleaning.”

  Gabe raised his eyebrows. “That’s not like Deedee.” The bear was notorious for being the first to arrive and the last to leave. The shifter was conscientious when it came to her business, or perhaps just a control freak.

  The she-wolf shrugged. “Family business.”

  Gabe took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. “So just tell me what to do.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yep, the sooner we finish the sooner we leave.”

  Kira giggled and her wolf preened at their mate. “He cooks, he cleans is there anything he can’t do?”

  Gabe pretended to think for a few seconds. “Hmmm no, but there’s one thing I do particularly well.”

  He gave her a lascivious look and heat rapidly permeated her body. “How about you wipe down the counters while I sweep the floor?”

  Gabe pouted. “Well that’s fun too I guess.”

  “So how was your day?”

  Uncertainty passed through Gabe for a second. He wasn’t sure whether to tell her about Albert Peterson. On one hand his wolf howled at him to keep their mate safe, and what she didn’t know couldn’t hurt her. However he didn’t like the idea of her finding out some other way.

  He cleared his throat. “Well a couple of days back I ran into a guy driving a Cadillac. I was on my way home from dropping you off. I thought he was a bit suspicious so I took his license plate. Then I saw him in town again the other day. So I thought I’d check up on him. Turns out his brother works for your old pack.”

  Kira felt a trickle of icy fear. “A coincidence maybe?”

  Gabe came over and took her hands. “No, when I came by the Diner earlier he was here. He was watching you.”

  Kira squeezed his hands and gulped.

  “When he saw me he took off so we persuaded him to come and have a chat in the Sheriff’s Station.”

  Kira cocked her head on one side. “We?”

  “Me, Jake, Alec, Adam…”

  “Wait you said he was in the Diner?”

  He nodded and Kira thought back to the patrons she had served and remembered the small sweaty human who had ordered numerous cups of coffee and had looked at her oddly. “So what happened?”

  Gabe snorted scathingly. “Adam barely had to say anything and the guy fell apart. Turns out your brother in law was threatening to fire his brother and stop his health insurance unless
Albert spied on you and Lilah. The brother’s in hospital with cancer and has six kids and a huge mortgage.”

  After the small human had broken down and started sobbing the four burly wolves had felt a bit sheepish. They had allowed Albert to leave with a warning. He was told to report back to the Charming Alpha that Adam wanted to meet, but that Lilah and Kira were now part of his pack.

  Albert had sniffled and asked about his brother. Adam magnanimously told Albert to let him know if his brother lost his job, he would see to it that his brother found a new job. Albert had been relieved and scurried away as fast as possible.

  Kira furrowed her brow mulling over what Gabe had told her. “Have any of the Charming pack been in town?”

  “Albert says not.” Although Gabe thought it best to hold onto the fact that he saw Albert driving around with a number of heavily built passengers for now. There was no way to tell if they were shifters and Albert had denied they were. Why would he lie about that? Then again they could easily have been in town without Albert’s knowledge…

  Kira nodded. “Thank god.” She breathed.

  Gabe rubbed a thumb over her cheek. “It’s gonna be okay. Adam will meet with your old Alpha and make him see that this is hardly worth starting a fight over.”

  Kira raised her eyebrows and Gabe stammered. “I mean you are worth fighting for, of course you are. But just not in this context. I would fight for you. I will fight for you. I will fight to be with you.”

  Kira lightly brushed her lips against his. “God you’re easy Bambi.”

  Giggling she flicked the dish towel at him again and fled into the store room.

  Chuckling Gabe chased after her. In his eagerness he managed to trip over a table and let out a protracted ooof as he landed ass over head on the floor. Without missing a beat he leapt to his feet and continued to the store room. He was far too excited to be embarrassed.

  He found her leaning against the small table Deedee used as a desk, she was pressing her lips together tightly pretending like she handed just heard him fall over.

  Slowly like a predator stalking its prey he sidled toward her. She flushed and bit her lip. Gabe tangled his fingers in her curly hair and pulled her in for a slow, sensual kiss. She moaned into his mouth as his tongue danced with hers. He reached his other hand round her back, journeying down until he cupped her round ass.

  Kira tentatively reached between them and brushed her knuckles against the front of his trousers. He groaned appreciatively into her mouth and emboldened she did it again.

  Abruptly Gabe drew back from the kiss and Kira mewled at the loss of his soft lips.

  He leaned his forehead against hers and she could see his eyes flicker to deep amber. “Careful you’re getting me awfully excited.”

  Kira smiled naughtily. “It seems like you’ve been giving me pleasure and I haven’t been reciprocating.”

  “There’ll be time enough for that later.”

  Gabe pulled her back to his mouth, this time a little more forcefully. Kira clung to his shoulders as he plundered her mouth. She suddenly gasped as she felt his hands traverse her panties and slip into her wet folds. Sneaky wolf, she hadn’t even noticed him unbuckling her jeans!

  His fingers sought her tight channel. He broke away from her lips and trailed kisses over her jaw and down her neck whilst abruptly pushing two fingers inside her. She whimpered at the sudden invasion. His mouth found the juncture between her shoulder and neck, where eventually he would place his bonding mark. He alternated between kissing and licking it. She moaned in delight as her wolf yipped beatifically.

  Gabe twirled his fingers inside before pushing another in. Her breathing hitched as he nipped at her skin with blunt teeth. Her fingers dug into his shoulders and he sped up his movements. The wonderful pressure she felt built and built with each thrust of his talented fingers. He used his thumb to flick her clit. Once. Twice. Then she was gone.

  Kira cried out his name as his pushed his fangs into her silken skin. A twinge of pain shot through her body before it melted into pleasure and a second mini orgasm coursed through her. She ran her fingers through his hair, and closed her eyes as her body trembled. Gabe threw back his head and howled in satisfaction, the joyous taste of her blood fresh on his lips.

  He bent his head and smoothed his tongue over the wound. They had not bonded yet or mated but at least he had given her his mark. That was enough to satisfy his wolf… for the time being.

  Pulling back he stroked his thumb over the mark and she shivered, moaning adorably. “I’m sorry.”

  “Hmmmm?”

  “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have marked you without asking.”

  A small voice at the back of his head had piped out just before he sunk his fangs into her. But the mixture of seeing her flush in the throes of orgasm and her luminous mocha skin just inches away from him had proved too much.

  Kira nuzzled her head in his shoulder and scented him. She rubbed her cheek over his shoulder. “I’m your mate; I want to wear your mark. Just like you’ll wear mine. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  Gabe folded his arms round his mate. “I wish we could stay here a little longer but it’s getting pretty cold out there. Heavy snow is forecast in the next few days, we don’t wanna get trapped here.”

  “Oh I don’t know Bambi. We’ve got food, water, each other… I bet we could hunker down for a month in here.”

  “Don’t tempt me. We really should get going.”

  Kira sighed. “Hmmm yes we really should. After five more minutes.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  3rd December

  Kira’s eyes fluttered awake. She smiled remembering the feel of her mate’s hands on her body, the sensation of his teeth in her skin. She stretched as her wolf yowled and threw her arm across the bed.

  “Yow!” Lilah cried as Kira’s hand connected with her face.

  Kira pulled her hand back and looked at her twin sheepishly. Lilah rubbed her face and scowled at Kira.

  “Sorry forgot you were there.”

  “I don’t see how.” Grumbled Lilah. “You’ve been kicking and slapping me all night.”

  Kira frowned at Lilah’s tired face. “Have I? Why didn’t you wake me up?”

  “Ah gee I wish I’d thought of that… Of course I tried to wake you up! You just kept mumbling something about Bambi and groaning.”

  Kira’s eyes widened and she turned away so her sister couldn’t see her blush.

  Lilah heaved herself out of bed and began padding to the bathroom. “Whatever you were dreaming about it must have been good, because you certainly didn’t want to wake up.”

  Kira rolled over. All night she’d dreamt of Gabe. It had been lovely. She dreamt of them making love over and over until finally at last they were bonded. She had felt so satisfied, so fulfilled but now she was awake she felt empty and itchy. The need for her mate had been a slow burn, gradually creeping over her until finally now she was desperate to be with him. Heat flowed through her body and her skin felt too tight. Her wolf was howling for her mate.

  She threw the covers back and leapt out of bed. Kira paced as her wolf prowled. It had been too long since she had been in her wolf form. She needed a run. If she could just get out and burn some energy she’d feel better.

  Kira called out goodbye to Lilah and slipped downstairs to find Jolene on the phone and the bobcat Deputy Deanna sat staring moodily out of the window.

  “Hello… hello… is someone there?”

  Jolene frowned and hung up the phone. “Asshole.” She muttered. “You going out?” She called to Kira.

  “I gotta go out for a run, my wolf’s going nuts.”

  Deanna leapt to her feet. “I don’t think that’s wise.”

  “Aww come on, I haven’t shifted in ages. Besides I’m on pack land and it’s daylight. Besides Gabe told me about the whole Albert Peterson farrago. Joseph was trying to spy on us and he got caught, we’re safe here.”

  Deanna pursed her lips and finally gave i
n. “Well… okay but don’t go too far, remember there’s snow forecast.”

  “I won’t besides I’ve got a shift at the Diner later.”

  Kira skipped out onto the porch and danced around. Jesus it was cold! She quickly shimmied out of her nightshirt and stashed it in Jolene’s clothes box. Her flesh rapidly goose pimpled and she shuddered into her wolf. Stretching she swiftly leapt off the porch and sprinted through the woods.

  The little wolf roared with happiness at being free, but still the yearning for her mate lingered. She knew she needed to bond with Gabe and soon, her wolf had allowed her to wait until she was ready. But now she couldn’t wait a moment longer.

  *

  Kira’s eyes rolled to the clock once again. She’d been checking it every five minutes since she started her shift. She’d been more than a little disappointed when Gabe hadn’t picked her up for work. He’d apparently been out on a call. So instead it was Jake who drove her. Kira had tried to probe Jake about what Gabe was doing but the serious wolf would not be drawn. Gabe did actually text her and apologized but promised he would collect her from the Diner later.

  Jake could sense her discomfort, at being so hot and bothered, but merely raised an eyebrow, gave a knowing glance at the mark Gabe had placed on her skin and stayed silent. Kira was thankful it was Jake. If it had been Mac the she-wolf would have prodded until Kira gave in and told her everything. Jake at least was reserved and respectful of her privacy.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t want people to know that she and Gabe were going to bond. Sooner than Gabe realized. But she was a little antsy about them knowing that she seemed to be going through a particularly strong mating pull.

  The mating pull referred to something that happened to shifters after they met their true mate and lasted up until they bonded. It was nature trying to force mates to be together. It affected shifters in different ways.

  From talking to Jolene she had discovered that the Beta of their pack had apparently tried to strangle a friend of his mate when he got too close to her. Like the Beta some nearly combusted with the need to mate while others found it to be a slow smolder. It kind of depended on the ferocity of the wolf inside. Until today Kira would have firmly put herself in the latter category but apparently her wolf doesn’t have that much patience… The desire to be with her mate had been blossoming and now it was a full grown flower desperate to be picked!