Tempted (Two Marks 1)

It wasn’t the fact that the two men I’d been falling for had switched from huge, naked men to wolves and then back. It had been that it hadn’t bothered me all that much. Or that they wanted to mark me with wolf teeth. Then he’d tossed in being marked by their dicks, too, and that had made me hot. Made me wet and eager for them all over again.

That was why I had a little panic attack. Because I still wanted two men who switched from sexy men to furry wolves.

They’d given me room, let me take time to process as the sun set. I’d returned inside after dark and they hadn’t said a word, only led me to bed and tucked me between them. They were gentle. Quiet. Cautious, even. As if they were afraid I truly might run away.

It had been a consideration, because was I really safe? Would they hurt me? I knew they could but as their hands ran over me, not in a sexual way as much as one to perhaps soothe me, I knew they wouldn’t. They were keeping me where they knew I was safe. Where they could protect me from all things. If I needed them, they’d be right there.

No, I was safe. And that had been my last thought before I’d fallen asleep.

Now, I sat on the front porch steps and stared out into the wilderness that surrounded Wade’s house. The morning sun was warm on my face. It had rained overnight, and everything was bright and clean. A bird chirped in the distance.

I felt their eyes on me. Even with the new day, they allowed me room, feeding me coffee and eggs without speaking of anything more than the weather.

I wasn’t sure if it was because they worried I’d bolt, or just plain worried. Perhaps they were waiting to see if I had questions. I had too many to voice.

They’d admitted to a lot, and I had to absorb it all.

I’d always been drawn to wolves. It was why I’d studied biology in college then moved specifically into research of the species in grad school and for my dissertation. And now, as my job. I’d left Connecticut for Wyoming to be closer to them. To see them in the wild.

Was that why I’d been drawn to Wade from the start? Why I’d taken him home with me after knowing him only a few minutes? Why I’d let both him and Landry touch me? Why I was falling for them?

God, was I part wolf?

I popped up from the wood step, and paced the grass in front of his house. I thought of my parents. They were so not wolves. They didn’t understand anything about me. My drive. My desires. My dreams. Why my work was what had me eager to get up in the morning. It fulfilled me, unlike the prep school job they were hoping I’d consider. I felt like they were matchmakers, putting me into a relationship that just wouldn’t work.

Somehow, being with Landry and Wade did.

Two men. God, two!

I put my hand over my lips. Two wolves.

The screen door slammed, and I turned. “Time to head into town,” Wade said, setting his Stetson on his head.

Landry came down the steps, kissed the top of my head. They were dressed and were acting as if they hadn’t shifted into wild animals in Wade’s bedroom. “We’ve got someone for you to meet.”

As Wade closed up the house, Landry took my hand and led me to the truck.

“Dr. Cord McCaffrey is a friend of ours.”

“Doctor? Like me?” I asked after I climbed up onto the bucket seat and Landry slid in beside me.

“Seatbelt,” Landry said. I picked up the strap as he kept talking. “Medical doctor. His practice is in West Springs. He’s also a shifter.”

After my belt clicked into place, I looked up at Landry. At the dark stubble on his jaw, the crinkles around his eyes. How was he a wolf?

Wade climbed in behind the wheel and started the engine. “Doing okay, sugar?” His eyes raked over my face.

I nodded. Okay was all I could be in this moment.

“Is he a vet?” I asked. They laughed, and my cheeks went hot. “Sorry.”

Wade took my hand and used the other to steer us down the mountain. “No worries. For someone who just learned about shifters, it’s a good question. He’s a medical doctor. He treats shifters and humans both. Mostly humans, because shifters don’t get sick, but he’s also interested in wolf shifter genetics.”

“Why are you bringing me to him? I thought you said being a shifter wasn’t an infection. I’m not going to turn into a wolf, am I?”

Landry set his hand on my thigh. “Easy, sugar. Breathe. When we first met, we told you we’d never hurt you, never let anyone harm you. Remember that?”