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  She nodded, relieved that he understood and didn’t say anything to further her embarrassment. She shifted, bringing her mouth to his cock and licking it again. She closed her mouth around the head and sucked gently. He groaned, clutching her hair.

  “That’s it. Fuck, Krista, your mouth feels so good.”

  His praise eased her concerns some more, so she opened her mouth and took more of him in. She moved back and forth, taking as much of his erection as she could into her mouth, lapping at him with her tongue and sucking him at the tip.

  He hissed and rocked his hips. “Oh, yes. Move your hand, baby. Stroke my cock while you suck it.” He groaned and tightened his hands in her hair when she’d complied.

  He had an earthy taste that fed her senses. She felt her sensitive pussy getting wet and her clit swelling with need. She sucked him harder and faster, hoping that’d alleviate the growing ache between her legs.

  His hips were pumping in time with her thrusts as if he were fucking her mouth, which in essence he was. Thinking of it in that sense felt so erotic that she groaned around the mouthful of cock she was eagerly sucking.

  “Fuck! That feels good. Squeeze my balls with your other hand, baby.”

  Frantic to please him, she reached up and squeezed his sac, rolling his balls with one hand while she jerked him off with the other. His cock grew even harder as he held her head still. Then he fucked her mouth in earnest, groaning and panting with effort.

  She was so damn turned-on that she let go of his balls and shoved her hand under the shirt she had on. She found her clit and rubbed it fast as she could.

  “Oh, fuck yeah, fuck yeah, baby. Make yourself come for me.”

  Her pussy throbbed as her orgasm claimed her. She moaned around his cock, and he threw his head back and roared. The first spurt of his release startled her, but she worked her throat as she swallowed all he had to give.

  He slumped back and grabbed the counter, sated. “Shit!” He jumped away, startling her as his cock jerked out of her mouth. He shook his hand. “Damn, that was hot.”

  She smiled at him. “You should watch where you put your hands. There’s a hot stove behind you.” She started to stand, and he reached down to help her.

  “You should watch where you put your hands. There’s a hot cock in front of you.” He laughed, nuzzling her hair.

  She giggled. “That was cheesy.”

  “I’m full of cheese, baby. Get used to it. For as long as you’re here, we’ll be joined at the hip. Cheese and all.”

  She smiled against his chest. She could get used to being around him.

  Cheese and all.

  Chapter Seven

  Krista was in love with Toby. She wasn’t sure when it happened, but she was sure it had. Over the last month, they’d been as inseparable as he’d warned after their first night together. Oh, they still went their separate ways during the workday. After all, she was here to help Mikaela with her caseload while she orchestrated the purchase of the adjacent Caldwell Tree Farm. Luckily, the hiccup with the purchase only delayed the sale a couple of weeks and was now scheduled to close a week from Friday. But Krista couldn’t help but appreciate the interruption because she would’ve left two days ago if it hadn’t happened.

  Every morning, Toby had insisted on cooking her breakfast. When she worried what his father would think of her missing breakfast at the main house, Toby brushed off her concerns with sweet kisses, telling her that Mikaela hadn’t always come down to breakfast when she first arrived. Plus, he’d argued that if he cooked, then they wouldn’t have to get up as early. So, he had cooked her breakfast, burning a few here and there, and she’d gladly eaten everything because he genuinely wanted to do it for her.

  If their mornings had been filled with lazy kisses and laughable breakfast experiments, their nights had been nothing but the hot monkey sex she’d hoped to one day experience. Only better.

  Way better.

  Toby was an attentive, patient lover. He’d introduced her to just about every position imaginable, taking her with care regardless of how intense some of their couplings had been, fucking her well into the night. Every night.

  On a few occasions she’d woken up expecting to find him snuggled up against her, blanketing her body like usual, but she’d been all alone. She’d searched the cabin only to come up without any trace of where he’d been. The first time it’d happened, she figured he would’ve said something about it the following morning, but he hadn’t. She thought about asking where he went in the middle of the night but decided it was probably none of her business. It wasn’t as if he were going off on some assignation. The only woman around here besides her was Mikaela. So, she let it go. She had bigger concerns than wondering where Toby slipped away to during the middle of the night.

  Like this whole boyfriend lie she was living. Maybe she hadn’t pressed Toby about his secret because she felt guilty about her own.

  As she walked into the office she shared with Mikaela on this Monday morning, she couldn’t stop thinking about how silly the whole thing seemed. When Mikaela had told her about Josh’s brothers’ fear of commitment and hinted at the possibility Krista could enjoy some casual sex, she’d been excited about the idea. Okay, so she’d been scared witless, but deep down she’d been harboring nervous energy that could’ve easily been construed as excitement. And she was at least willing to consider the possibility. She never imagined she’d meet the man of her dreams and fall in love within a month. Now after spending this time with Toby, she felt like a fraud.

  “Good morning, Krista,” Mikaela said as Krista strolled into the office. “Or should I say good afternoon?” She chuckled.

  “Ha-ha. It’s nine not noon. Big difference.” She slumped into her chair, staring at the few case files left that needed any attention, and really, the work wasn’t pressing.

  “What’s with the long face?” Mikaela asked softly. Krista looked at her, realizing they were really friends now. Over the past few weeks Toby hadn’t been the only person Krista had gotten close to. Her long workdays were filled with female camaraderie she’d sorely been lacking before coming out here. Although she knew she could turn to Mikaela before, now she embraced that trust built between them.

  She sighed, glancing at her coffee cup and willing it to be filled with the delicious ebony liquid so she wouldn’t have to actually get up. Her expression must’ve been more forlorn than she realized because Mikaela got up and grabbed Krista’s cup with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “Good gravy, girl. Here. I’ll get you some. Just start spilling your guts. I can listen and pour at the same time.”

  “I want to tell Toby the truth. About me not having a boyfriend, I mean.” When Mikaela whirled to pin Krista with a stare, she continued. “I understand what you told me before coming out here, but I don’t think Toby will dump me because I don’t have a boyfriend. I think we’ve moved past the casual sex phase . . . like almost right away.”

  Mikaela turned back to the coffee pot, filled Krista’s cup, and brought it over to her before sitting on the corner of her desk. “No,” she said softly, “he won’t break up with you because you don’t have a boyfriend. But do you want to risk that happening? Because it might if you tell him the truth now.”

  Krista took a deep breath. “I’ve thought about that, too, and, well, I know this mess is of my own making.” She narrowed her eyes at Mikaela. “Instigated by you, of course, but I can’t fix it if I don’t come clean.”

  Mikaela nodded. “Okay, how about this—you keep quiet until after you leave. Stay in touch with Toby, and when the time’s right, tell him you’re not getting married and you want to be with him.”

  “That’s still lying.”

  “Jesus, Krista. You’re an attorney. Think like one. What I suggested isn’t a lie because (A.) you’re not getting married and (B.) you do want Toby.”

  “That’s lying by omission.”

  “Semantics.”

  Krista groaned with frustration as she leaned back
into her chair and picked up her coffee. She sipped it lightly.

  “How did you know you wanted Josh?”

  Mikaela smiled with a faraway look on her face. “I just did. I’d recently broken off an engagement, as you know, when I was assigned to revamp Thomas’s will. Of course I was drawn to Josh right away, but I had my secret. I wanted him, but I was here on an assignment. He wanted me too. Boy, did he want me!” She laughed. “He came onto me that first night then dodged me. I didn’t know what to make of it at the time, but everything makes sense to me now.” She turned and gave Krista a pointed look. “Everything will fall into place with you, too. If you let it. Just keep quiet for now. You leave next week. Why chance pissing him off when you can enjoy the remaining time you have here?”

  She had a point, damn it. Krista didn’t want to ruin the relationship she had with Toby. Even if they were just playing house for now, it’d been the best time of her life. “I love him,” she murmured. Her eyes shot to Mikaela, panicking that she’d said it out loud.

  Mikaela smiled at her. “Then love him and keep him as long as you can. And talk to him after you’ve had some time away from here to make sure it’s truly how you feel.”

  Good advice, but Krista was already certain. No time apart would ever change how she felt about Toby. But a week from Friday she’d be gone. Did she want to chance disrupting the only peace and love she’d ever felt in her life when she could live it just a little bit longer? No. She knew that made her incredibly selfish, but she’d need these memories to get her through the rest of her life.

  “Okay,” she breathed. “I’ll wait.”

  Mikaela nodded. “Good. Now we don’t really have a lot going on today. I’m not expecting a call from the title company until tomorrow. Why don’t you and I go see the guys in action? It really is amazing watching them plant and cut the trees.”

  “Sure, sounds great.” Only she couldn’t muster real enthusiasm. It should’ve been easy for her to fake it since she was a big ol’ fraud anyway.

  * * * *

  Toby wiped the sweat from his brow as he tried dislodging debris from the wheels of the tractor, grunting and straining with effort.

  “Hold up there, hawse.” Toby turned to see Josh walking toward him with some tree pruners.

  “You rock, man,” Toby said as he stood and caught his breath.

  “Can’t argue there.” Josh chuckled, and he bent down and started to chop the mangled limbs. While he worked, he glanced up at Toby. “You wanna come over to my cabin one night this weekend? I was thinking we could cook out, do the double-date thing before Krista has to go back.”

  A crushing weight landed on Toby’s chest at the reminder of Krista’s schedule. He’d been avoiding the reality of her departure, knowing it was stupid not to face that fact head-on, but damn it, he just couldn’t bring himself to accept there’d come a day when he’d wake up and she would not be there. She’d rocked his world. Not wiggling her way into his life. Oh, no, she’d forced her way in with what seemed like no effort at all. And with her, he’d found himself surrounded by pleasure like none other. Her presence in his life a balm to his lonely soul. She was the other part of him.

  He loved her.

  God, he was so screwed. A few times he’d almost told her how he felt, but at the last second, he’d found the strength to resist confessing his heart and soul to her. She belonged to another man, and his mountain lion was in agony with the knowledge that he’d never get to claim his mate. Because Krista was the only mate for him.

  And once she was gone, he’d go back to how life was before. But he’d never be the same. His mountain lion wasn’t the only part of him hurting.

  “Toby?”

  He blinked looking at Josh. Oh, shit, he’d asked about dinner. “Yeah, okay. I’ll ask her, but I’m sure she won’t mind. How about Saturday?” He tried being nonchalant but had no idea if he was.

  “Works for me.”

  “What’re you two dickheads doing? Quit pussyfooting around with that and come on,” Rob said as he came around the tractor.

  Josh stood. “Almost got it. Just having a little trouble with this branch.”

  Rob leaned down. “Let me.” He reached for the branch just as the tree pruner slipped. It sliced across his arm, and he yelled, grabbing his wound.

  “Fuck! Are you okay?” Josh asked, turning toward him. Toby stepped up so he could see how badly his brother was hurt.

  But as soon as he did, his adrenaline kicked in double time. Not only had Rob’s fangs descended, but his pupils had turned into cat-eye slits. “Rob, you have to calm down,” Toby said as he grabbed his shoulder. “We’ll get you inside and cleaned up.”

  Rob roared and lunged for Toby, shifting before he reached him. He landed with his paws on Toby’s chest. Toby didn’t want to hurt his brother because he knew it was an animalistic reaction to the injury he’d just received. So, he grabbed him by the scruff, trying to pull him off.

  As soon as he grabbed him, Toby heard a scream. A very feminine scream. As he turned, he saw Mikaela and Krista stopped on the dirt road staring right at them. Shit. This was so not good.

  Then Rob hissed in their direction and tried pushing off Toby’s chest, eyes on the ladies. “No!” Toby yelled. Rob, chill out. Don’t you fucking dare try to attack—

  Toby’s protest died as Rob got loose and charged the girls. What the fuck? They weren’t a threat to him, and he knew that.

  He had to protect Krista. She was his! There was a roar beside him as Josh shifted and chased after Rob.

  Stay away from my mate!

  Toby started running after Josh. Then Mikaela shifted right next to Krista and ran toward Rob. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

  Back off, Mikaela. It’s not you I want, Rob growled as he neared the women.

  Toby knew what he had to do. He couldn’t fight it, not when his love was in danger. He shifted, his clothes ripping off his body just like the others, and ran as fast as he could. He couldn’t look at Krista. He didn’t want to see the terror, the confusion in her eyes. A closely guarded family secret—and Rob had just fucked that up. He should’ve known after the first several days of being with Krista when Rob and Jack had finally backed off that it wouldn’t last. They’d never had a female on the property this long—taken or otherwise—unless she was one of their mates. But Krista was still unavailable, so Rob couldn’t claim her. His behavior was uncharacteristic of their kind. Unless the injury ignited some fight-or-flight-or-fuck reaction.

  Toby reached Rob just as he jumped over Mikaela and tackled Krista, knocking her to the ground. Toby roared, barreling into his brother’s side and toppling him over beside Krista. He rolled them over several feet while Mikaela and Josh shielded her from further attacks.

  Bro, what the fuck? She’s taken. Taken!

  I know, Toby. I’m not going to claim her, but I want to play with her.

  Oh, fuck you! You ain’t going anywhere near her; you hear me? She’s mine!

  “Rob!” Jack bellowed. “Stand down. You don’t want to do this. You’re stronger than your lion.”

  Toby wasn’t sure when Jack had arrived, but when Rob’s struggles lessened, he was glad Jack had been able to reason with him.

  Rob finally stopped struggling altogether, going limp underneath Toby. Sorry. Shit. I-I don’t know what got into me. And, fuck, my arm hurts.

  You’re getting blood all over me, Toby said as he licked his brother’s wound to help the blood coagulate.

  Rob hissed at him, but Toby knew it was because of the pain. We need to get you out of here.

  “I called Dad. The doctor’s on his way,” Jack said, obviously hearing the mental communication.

  Toby moved off Rob and looked at Krista. Jack was standing next to her, grasping her upper arms as if holding her in place. Toby growled low in his throat at the sight of another man touching his woman.

  “None of that,” Jack warned.

  Damn it, he knew his brother was right, but he still didn’t like
it. But when he finally looked at Krista, saw her pale face, wide eyes, he suppressed his urge to continue protecting her. Jack wasn’t a threat, and the last thing Toby wanted to do was scare her even more than she already was.

  Fuck, I’ve got a lot of explaining to do.

  I’ll do it, Mikaela said. Just, er, let me run home and shift first. I don’t want to walk back in the buff.

  I need to be the one to tell her.

  I understand, Toby, but I think it’d be better if you let me ease her into your conversation.

  She’s right, Josh agreed. Let her smooth things over. Then you can talk to Krista.

  Toby didn’t like the idea of losing sight of her. What if she ran off without talking to him first? But as he thought about it, he knew Mikaela had a point. They were friends, and his sister-in-law could help Krista see things from an outside perspective since she’d once been an outsider herself. Fine. But I’m going to follow her to your place. Jack, can you walk Krista to Josh’s cabin?

  “Sure,” Jack said. Krista looked up at Jack, clearly seeing them communicating. “Come on, sweetheart. Mikaela wants to talk to you.”

  “I-I . . .”

  “I know. This is a big surprise. But I promise all your questions will be answered.”

  * * * *

  Krista sat on the couch inside the cabin Mikaela shared with Josh, waiting for her friend to come and explain to her how in the hell everyone turned into animals. She wasn’t sure what they’d turned into. Some kind of cat, it’d looked like, but they sure as hell didn’t look like Mr. Fuzzy Tail, her childhood kitty cat.

  She was freaking out. That had to be it. Maybe she was having a nervous breakdown? If that was the case, she needed a straightjacket STAT. People didn’t just up and turn into other things. That kind of shit didn’t happen. And what was all that looking around at each other and Jack responding like he’d been talking to them? Either she’d lost her mind or she’d ended up in some alternate reality. Maybe her ass was still asleep and this was one fucked-up dream.