Chapter 5: Chapter Five

It had been three days since the barbecue and Max was finding Cassie both intriguing and irritating.

She refused to talk to him about James or the break-in. Alex had warned him that she would act this way, but Max just didn’t get it. Cassie had no problem discussing what they were investigating and had met the two wolf shifters the Council had sent. However, she wouldn’t hear of James being involved. She just told him that she was willing to listen when he had solid proof.

Proof. Max was having a hard time tying James to the Church but couldn’t eliminate him as a suspect, either. Max found himself more frustrated by the day. He hadn’t had the opportunity to check out the gallery, either.

With Kurt and Clint in town and searching for any trace of the Church members, it’d been suggested that his visit wait a few days. He was finally getting a chance to visit the gallery the next morning. He felt better about all the waiting he’d been doing, although his anxiety had picked up quite a bit with the lack of answers over the last few days.

Max didn’t allow Cassie to see any of it, though. She spent most of her time in her studio and Max was glad to see she was back doing what she loved. They’d also made a habit of sitting together on the porch late each night, talking and sharing a few kisses. They were growing closer each day.

Max hoped that was helping Cassie put the events in the past behind her as much as he was benefiting from the time together.

During the day, with Cassie working, he hung out with his Alpha, Alex and Chase. He was beginning to feel like the man he used to be. Even though he knew the camaraderie with the other three men was helping him, it was really Cassie to whom he attributed the change. He wanted to be the man she deserved.

He hated to leave her every time he ushered her inside and into her bedroom. He just wasn’t sure they were ready to move their relationship to the next step. Oh, it wouldn’t be long. He ached to have her against him. But she was busy, and he wanted to ensure her safety above everything else.

Getting to know Cassie better by keeping their relationship at a slow pace had the added benefit of making Max feel like he really knew Cassie. Max found that Cassie was a talented, smart and warm woman. While she didn’t like to be in a group of people in strange surroundings, she loved to be with family and enjoyed gatherings with them.

She spoke to her brothers and sister-in-law at least once a day. He liked that they were so important to her.

The more Max learned about her, the more he liked her. He’d started to connect to her right away and over the last couple of days, he’d started to fall for her. Their connection was more than just sex, especially since they hadn’t had it yet.

The nightmares that he’d been plagued with since he’d returned home had eased. The last two nights, Max had dreamed of some good times with his team. That in itself was a miracle which he attributed to Cassie.

Cassie asked lots of questions about what he’d done in the Navy and his friends. Out of all the stories he’d shared, he hadn’t been able to talk about losing Evan just yet. But he spoke of his best friend, glad that she seemed to want to listen. And he’d needed to tell someone else about the man who’d grown to be a brother to him.

It was nice just relaxing on the patio with her.

His wolf did not fully agree. Every time Max was close enough to smell Cassie, his animal wanted to claim her. The human part of him understood that Cassie needed time to get to know him better, but the wolf wanted to mate.

As he locked up the house and checked the security, Cassie’s shower turned on farther back in the house. His cock, which had been half-hard the entire time he’d sat talking with her, grew even more so. He palmed himself, thinking about how she would look, naked and wet, under the hot spray.

He bit back a moan and yanked his hand away. He’d jacked off every single night since he’d started staying with her. Tonight would be no different. He needed to get to bed. It was already after midnight. Hopefully Cassie would be turning in soon, too.

She’d gotten only a few hours’ sleep before she’d risen to start painting again. It seemed to Max that she got very little rest, but she assured him it was normal for her. She painted when she could and, once she was done, she would be able to catch up on her sleep.

Max worried she wasn’t taking proper care of herself, but he also didn’t want to interfere. At least not yet. Once she belonged to him—not if but when—he’d demand she take proper care of herself.

He closed his bedroom door behind him and pulled his T-shirt off. Walking around the end of the bed, he folded the comforter back before dropping his shorts and boxers. He didn’t always sleep in the nude even though he was more comfortable that way. However, he’d found that with Cassie close by, the need to jack off every night was strong and the only way to really calm himself enough to fall asleep.

He climbed into the big bed and lay on his back. The overhead fan turned silently, creating a soft breeze. Max ran his hands down his chest and played with his nipples. The pull made his cock even harder. Keeping the fingers of his left hand busy, he used his right to stroke himself.

It felt good, like it had the past several nights, but Max still wanted to experience what Cassie’s talented fingers would do to him.

He sped up his movements as he thought about Cassie climbing into bed with him. What she would feel like under him. He thrust his hips up, imagining being buried deep inside her. He craved to hear the sounds she would make while he took her. He hoped she was vocal. He enjoyed a woman who didn’t hide her pleasure.

Max pumped himself faster, already close to the edge.

Cassie had a small, compact body. She liked to wear soft cotton pants and tank tops while she painted. Even her cute painted toenails were a turn on for him.

And her mouth! God, she had a talented tongue. They’d kissed probably a dozen times a day and he couldn’t get enough of her unique flavor.

He came, biting his lip to keep from crying out as he covered his hand with his seed. He fell back onto the sheets and panted. If just thinking about being with Cassie pushed him over so quickly, he had no idea how he would handle it when he finally got to have her in his bed.

He reached over and grabbed a handful of Kleenex to clean up the mess he’d made. He tossed them into the waste basket beside the bed then rolled over, burying his face in his pillow.

Sleep started to pull at him and he didn’t fight it as he looked forward to what the next day with Cassie would bring.

* * * *

Cassie dried off with a clean, fluffy towel then pulled on a pair of sleep pants and a black tank top. She ran a brush through her hair, thinking about the canvases that she needed to have picked up.

She’d told James that she would call him once she was ready for everything to be moved to the gallery. Or when she was almost out of space. She’d avoided having her assistant out to her house since she knew that Max and Alex believed he was involved. She’d canceled the meeting scheduled several days ago, pretending to be too busy trying to catch up to see him. James said he understood, but she was going to have to give in as she was running out of supplies.

In the meantime, she couldn’t figure out if James was actually involved or not, so she decided to just avoid the entire thing. Max let her, to a point. He still told her everything that the two Council shifters were finding out about the Church close by. According to Alex, they were watching some houses in town to see if any members were showing up around the Pack. There hadn’t been many signs of the known Church members and even less of the suspected.

Cassie felt both better and worse about that.

If the Church had not been involved in the break-in, then the only suspect was James. But she also didn’t want to think about strangers having been in her house.

She felt safe having Max with her while she completed the last of the new projects. Each time she was on a roll, he left her alone, just making sure that she had food or a drink close by. And if she needed a break, he would sit with her and talk for hours.

The stories that he told were amazing for her inspiration. She’d made sure that Max hadn’t seen any of the paintings just yet. After the show, she wanted to present them to him. She’d managed to make a series of works detailing each member of Max’s unit. She knew that they weren’t shifters, but she took what Max shared with her and brought them to life. She’d just completed the last one.

Evan. Who Max had said was his best friend. Each time he spoke about Evan, she could pick up on the tension and sadness inside Max. She hadn’t asked, yet she was pretty sure that Evan had been killed.

If that was what had happened, it was no wonder Max had been so depressed when he’d arrived back in town.

She wanted the painting of Evan to be perfect. To reflect every feeling that Max had shared with her. The moment Max saw it, Cassie hoped that he would have a lasting, loving reflection of his friend.

Now, since she was done, she wouldn’t be able to put off calling James any longer. Since Max was going to the gallery the next day, it would be the perfect time to ask her assistant over. Maybe she’d get a feeling if James was involved, if they had some time alone to talk.

She set her hairbrush down then strolled out of the bathroom connecting with her bedroom. Her soft mattress called to her, but she continued past it.

She’d been so close to finishing the entire series that she couldn’t relax until she was finally done. She really wanted to spend more time with Max, but she just couldn’t not work on her art. That was the way it was with her. When her muse struck, she painted obsessively then just stopped.

If she were going to have a relationship with Max—and she was going to make sure she got the chance—it was better the man learned her quirks now. So far, he had been very understanding.

She took the cover off her last canvas and let her gaze wander over the scene she’d created. The color and shading were just what she’d wanted.

There was just one more addition. She knew what it needed. She picked up her brush and chewed on the wooden tip. In her mind, she didn’t see Evan as a wolf. No, the way Max described him, there would be a difference in his best friend.

Cassie had gone with a panther. A powerful, sleek black panther.

She retrieved the paint palette and started mixing the colors. The panther crouched low in a field of brush, its hind legs poised to jump, ready and willing to defend his friends.

Working furiously, she lost herself in her special world. She didn’t have to think, just let the image in her mind out.

As her fingers started to cramp, she returned to awareness. The fog of concentration lifted and she stepped back, drawing in a deep breath.

It was perfect.

Elation swamped her.

The intelligence that was shining from the panther’s crystal-green eyes looked back at her. As Max had spoken about his best friend, it was this image that she’d seen. Now she could finally share her gift with Max. Let him see how she saw the world and the people in it.

Tears of pride and exhaustion prickled and she rubbed at her eyes with the heels of her hands.

She’d accomplished what she had set out to do. Turning in a circle, she took in each piece of work. The way that Max had described each man and the stories he’d shared had allowed her to see them in an animal form and turn them into their animal counterpart.

She smiled. She couldn’t wait to show Max.

But a glance at the clock on the wall showed that she had been busy. It was just after three in the morning, so she would have to wait to share her gift with him.

Now, hopefully, she would be able to sleep.

She walked to the attached bathroom and scrubbed the dry paint from her hands and under her nails.

Clean, she shut off the faucet and stared into the mirror. Now that she was finished with the series, she could take the time to decide how to proceed with Max.

There was no doubt that they wanted each another. And it was time to let him know that while she enjoyed getting to know him, she had to have him. She flicked off the bathroom light and headed toward her bed. Just as she reached it, she heard a faint noise from down the hall.

Cassie tiptoed to the door and pressed her ear against it. A soft moan, like from a wounded person, drifted to her. Quietly as possible, she pulled the bedroom door open and peeked into the corridor. The lights remained off and she couldn’t sense anyone near. She paused and strained to pick up the sound again.

There! Coming from Max’s bedroom.

She inched forward until she heard him cry out. Bolting to his bedroom, she grabbed the handle when she reached his door, relieved it was unlocked. After twisting it open, she rushed inside.

Max lay on his side, thrashing his head against the pillow. His long legs were tangled in the sheets as he kicked. He moaned again. Cassie couldn’t stand to see him struggling in a nightmare.

“Max,” she called as she crept closer.

“No!” he cried out, still asleep.

“Max, wake up! Max!” she tried again. Her knees hit the edge of the bed and she lightly shook his shoulder. “Max.”

His hand grasped her wrist and he yanked her forward. Cassie fell on top of him but ended up trapped under his heavier bulk as he rolled. His hazel eyes popped open but were cloudy. She wasn’t sure he even saw her.

With her free hand, she cupped his cheek. “It’s okay, Max. It’s Cassie. Wake up for me.”

Although he had her pinned under his body and his hand was still wrapped around her wrist, he wasn’t hurting her. In fact, under any other circumstances, she would have loved being in this position with him.

“Max, it’s me,” she repeated over and over.

He grunted, easing back. His gaze started to clear, and he blinked down at her. “Cassie?”

She smiled. “Hi.”

He frowned. “What?” he asked. “Oh, God! Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

He released his hold and sat back on his haunches.

“No,” she assured him. “You didn’t hurt me.”

Since his breathing was still a little too fast, she rubbed his chest. “You were having a nightmare.”

“Shit!” He closed his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

She lifted one hand to rub his jaw. “Hey. Look at me.” She smiled as he complied. “It’s okay. I finally ended up in bed with you.”

Cassie’s words startled a laugh from Max and he shook his head. He was so embarrassed that she had heard him having a nightmare, but thankful he hadn’t hurt her.

Max slowly lowered his head to let Cassie know he planned on kissing her. If she didn’t want him to, she could still pull away. Cassie didn’t. Instead, she lifted her head and their lips brushed.

She gasped, giving him entrance, and he took no time thrusting his tongue inside. Her nails dug into his bare shoulders as she held him tightly and moved her mouth against his. He’d gone to bed naked and knew that if he didn’t put a stop to their making out, it wouldn’t be long before he was begging to take her.

He tried to pull away, really, he did, but when she chased his lips with hers, he groaned and slanted his mouth over hers again.

She smoothed his hands down her body and under her tank. She arched into him while wrapping her legs around his waist. His cock was already hard and leaking.

It took everything he had to finally yank his head back. “If we don’t stop…”

“Don’t want to stop,” she told him, gripping his nape and trying to pull him down.

Her confession had him fighting for control once again. “We don’t have to do this right now.”

Cassie sat up and Max was enraptured by her soft expression. “You’re right, we don’t. But I want you and I know you feel the same way. We’re adults.”

Max shook his head. “I want you for more than just sex.” He needed her to understand that she meant more to him. He wanted a real relationship.

She grinned. “I know.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “And?”

“You’re not going anywhere, Max. We are going to see this to the end. And I’ve finally got you just where I want you.” She pushed him back forcing him to lie back. She threw her leg over his waist and planted both hands on his chest. “And I am going to take care of you tonight.”

“Yeah?” he replied, trying to tease, but it came out breathless.

“You bet.” Cassie shimmied down his body until she was between his legs. She lifted his cock and he had to bite his lips as she pumped him. He was already so close.

“I want to taste you,” she said.

“Yes,” he hissed out when she did just that.

She ran her tongue over the mushroom head while stroking the length. He gripped the sheet under him to keep from grabbing her head.

She looked up at him then swallowed him deep. She was so damn sexy going down on him.

“Christ!” he growled.

Humming, she pulled back up. “I love your flavor.”

He wasn’t going to able to survive her seduction. It took every ounce of his control to not pump his hips as she went back to sucking him. He let out a long moan as she cupped and rolled his balls with her left hand.

Cassie was expertly bringing him to the edge, so he stopped fighting it. He let go of all his tension and just closed his eyes, enjoying the pleasure she was giving him. He lifted his hips and Cassie adjusted easily to let him slide deep before backing off again.

She licked, sucked and hummed and it wasn’t long until he felt the familiar tingle at the base of his spine.

“Cassie!” he called out a warning.

She only dropped down and sucked harder. Taking that as permission, he bucked and came.

She swallowed down his seed, then popped off his cock with a smile. “I knew you would taste good.”

“Come up here,” he demanded.

She stroked him one last time, causing him to hiss again, then complied.

As soon as her body covered his, he rolled her under him before devouring her mouth. He was astonished at the power such a strong woman allowed. Panting with need, she begged with her body. He could read exactly what she required of him. They were connected like he’d only been able to dream of before in his life. Max wasted no time taking off her clothes as she shook. She moved with each touch, coming live under his hands. Once he had her bare and stretched out for him, he slowly traced over her with his tongue.

Shivering and panting, she rewarded him with moans and pleading. He plunged a finger inside her wet pussy as he lowered his mouth to her clit. She screamed and convulsed, climaxing for him.

Max lifted his head and watched as Cassie gasped for breath.

He removed his fingers and slowly rose back over her. She blinked at him, grinning widely. “Wow.”

He couldn’t have agreed more. He kissed her once again, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly.

They came down from their sexual high while embracing each another. Max found that he could have stayed just like that forever. He rotated their positions, lying back with Cassie draped over his chest. He buried his hand in her short hair as she petted him.

“I’m glad you came in here,” he said quietly.

She laughed. “I was going to wait until tomorrow, but then I heard you, and I had to make sure you were okay.”

He nodded. “It was a bad one.”

“Can you…? Do you want to talk about it?”

He wasn’t sure. He’d shared stories about his team with her, leaving out the last day. He still felt unable to tell anyone about that.

“You don’t have to,” she said softly. “I don’t mind listening if you need to talk, though.”

He took a deep breath. “On my last mission, Evan was killed.”

She didn’t show any surprise, just patted his chest.

“We’d gotten the hostages away and were almost to the rendezvous location when we ran into another group. We managed to hold them off long enough to hide in an old abandoned house. The bullets just kept coming through. I didn’t know Evan had been hit until later.”

He shuddered and choked on the words.

“It’s okay,” she soothed.

“I remember dropping to my knee to reload and looking around the room. My team had spread out to cover all the entrances and Evan was beside me with his body in front of the people we’d saved.” He sniffed. “I was so proud that even injured he’d put his life before the lives of others. I thought he would be okay. He told me he would be. Sanchez was trying to reach someone on the radio and everyone else was just attempting to cover our asses. I went back to my window to hold off the incoming enemies as best as I could.”

Tears filled his eyes. He ignored them, wanting to finish. “It was an RPG, rocket-propelled grenade, right through the wall. Evan and I used our bodies to shield them.”

“Oh, honey.” Cassie kissed his neck.

“He lived for another two hours, in pain and still trying to do his job.” It had been awful. The worst thing Max had ever been through. He hadn’t been able to help Evan. He’d held his best friend’s hand until Evan took his last breath. “I lost it. Just completely went crazy. If I hadn’t had the shifter’s quick healing, I don’t know that I would have survived the gunshot wounds. I just stood next to my team, firing until there was no one else left.”

Cassie crawled over him before she gripped his chin, making his gaze meet hers. “I’m glad. Do you hear me? I’m so glad you survived and are here now.”

He nodded. “Me too. For the first time since that night, I feel like I’m finally healing.”

She kissed him thoroughly until his cock perked up again. He ran his hands down her body, but she pulled away. “I’d like to show you something.”

“Oh, yeah?” he murmured, teasing his fingers lightly down her spine.

She laughed. “Not that. Okay, not just that.”

Cassie surprised him by rolling away and landing beside the bed. She held out her hand. Confused, he took it. She pulled him up and he went willingly, wondering what she was up to.

He did enjoy the view of her naked body.

She glanced over her shoulder and winked at him. “Save that thought for later.”

Gladly, he thought. One taste of her was not enough. He wasn’t sure why she’d insisted they leave the bed, but he was game to find out. He wasn’t surprised when she pushed open the studio door. She did spend most of her time in there.

“Listening to your stories, I felt like I knew your team,” she started to explain. “But I always picture someone, whether they are a shifter or not, I picture their animal. I hope this is okay.”

Max allowed her to grip his hand and pull him toward the canvas on the easel. His breath caught as he looked at the powerful panther. “Evan.”

“Yes, this is how I saw him.”

It was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen. It was as though Cassie had read his mind and pulled out Max’s own impression of his best friend. “Cassie, this is… I…” He turned to her and urged her forward. “Thank you!”

She beamed at him. “I have more.”

Max didn’t want to step away from the painting Cassie had done of Evan, but he was curious to see what else she’d been working on. He followed her to where more canvases leaned, covered, against the wall and watched as she removed the cloths.

“Oh, shit!” he said, astonished. His entire team came alive in front of him. He had no problem identifying each member of his unit. The talent she had for bringing the subject out in her art staggered him. “Oh, baby.”

Cassie held the covers while watching him. “You like them, right?”

“I love them,” he confirmed quietly. He stepped forward and ran his finger over the snow-white wolf that he somehow he knew was Matt Wallace. “I can’t believe you did this.”

“For you,” she told him. “After the show, I want to give them all to you.”

He faced her and saw the emotion shining from her eyes. Deeply touched, he moved forward and embraced her. “Thank you.” The words didn’t feel like enough to express his amazement, but he would make sure she understood. Every day of their lives, if he was able.

Cassie lifted her face and their lips brushed. Max needed more, so he pressed her tighter and nibbled on her bottom lip until she opened for him. He plunged his tongue inside her mouth, his blood pumping and his heart racing as she moaned and gripped him harder.

Inside, his wolf was frantic to mate with the woman that both man and beast recognized as their own.

He ripped his mouth away. “I want you.”

“Yes,” she hissed while he ran his fingers down her back.

They were already naked with his erection brushing against her stomach. It would be so easy to drag her down to the floor and lose himself inside her, but he knew Cassie deserved to be worshiped and for him to take his time.

“Come on.” He tried to lead her back to his bedroom.

She tugged on his hand. “Here, now.”

He was helpless to resist. He didn’t want to. His wolf clawed at him to make sure Cassie knew she belonged to them. Until now, he’d never felt this intense need to claim anyone.

Max brushed his thumbs over her nipples, smiling at her sharp intake of breath. He cupped her firm breasts, loving the fact that they fit perfectly in his hands. “On the floor,” he commanded.

She dropped gracefully, kneeling in front of him. She rubbed his palms down his stomach while bending forward to lick the bead of pre-cum from his cock.

He gasped and bucked but didn’t take advantage of her mouth like she expected. Instead, he joined her on the floor and pushed her to lie back.

Starting at her neck, he ran his tongue down her body, stopping to pay close attention to every spot that made her whimper. He wanted to learn every place that he could use to drive her crazy. By the time he reached her glistening pussy, Cassie was begging him to fill her.

He tormented her by playing with her clit and softly rubbing his fingers over her slick folds.

“Please!”

He took in her flush body and the heavy need in her features. “Turn over.”

She quickly moved to obey and get on her hands and knees.

“I’m going to take you,” he told her. “Claim you so you know who you belong to.”

“Yes, yes!”

He grasped his shaft and slid up against her. He massaged her opening with the head of his cock.

“Don’t tease,” she begged. “I need you.”

Max thrust deeply, causing her to cry out in ecstasy. Her inner muscles clamped down around his cock and he moaned.

Cassie pushed back against him and Max’s control snapped. He pulled out slowly before driving back inside.

It was fast and furious and so fucking good that he couldn’t think straight. All he knew was that it felt so right being buried inside Cassie.

He snapped his hips over and over as he drove himself closer to completion. Cassie threw her head back and screamed just as she climaxed. Max plunged inside, his body tightening, and he joined her, crashing over the edge.

Sweat dripped down his forehead to land on the back of her neck. She sighed deeply, the sound full of contentment and pleasure.

Max rolled them to the side and cuddled her close. “Damn.”

Giggling, Cassie nodded. “We need to do that again.”

He couldn’t have agreed more. “Yeah, but now I don’t think I can walk.”

He pulled out then pushed on her shoulders so she would turn onto her back. He poised over her. Cassie made a sight with her pink-tinged cheeks and tangled hair. “You are so beautiful.”

She snorted. “I’m sure I look it right now.”

“Always,” he told her, cupping her face.

She lifted her head to kiss him softly. “Come on, shower then bed.”

Bed. That sounded good to him. He rose, helping her along the way. He couldn’t stop running his hands over her shoulders as they left the studio. He wasn’t near finished with Cassie for the night.