Worth Fighting For

Chapter 9

For the second day in a row, sunlight pierced her closed eyelids, waking her from a sound sleep. Burying her head in the pillow, Misty groaned, attempting to shut out reality and recapture her dream. It had been a wonderful dream.

A warm chuckle tickled her ear from behind as an arm wrapped around her stomach. Misty’s eyes flew open as memories of last night assaulted her.

“Cody?” She turned onto her back.

“Were you expecting someone else?”

“Of course not.” She smiled at him, feeling downright giddy. Between her legs, her sex was deliciously sore from their adventures the previous night.

They’d watched the entire movie, trying everything the couple on the screen had. Well, almost everything. When a second man had joined the play, Cody had turned to her with complete sincerity, and a touch of possessiveness, and told her to not even think about it. She’d loved it. And in traditional style, teased him a little in return. But it hadn’t gone as she’d anticipated. After she’d told him he shouldn’t expect any other woman if she couldn’t have any other men, he had looked at her and said, “Why would I want another woman when I have you?” The memory still caused pleasure to bubble up inside her.

“Are you hungry, or do you want to cuddle some more?” he asked, sweeping her hair behind her ear.

Normally, she wouldn’t be up for another few hours. Cuddling sounded like heaven, but their sexual gymnastics last night had burned off a lot of calories. As much as she wanted to sink into his embrace, food proved too strong a temptation.

“I require nourishment!”

Her stomach clenched as his rich laugh filled the room. God, she loved the man. Just looking at him made her lightheaded with happiness. And now it seemed like all her dreams were coming true.

“Eggs or pancakes?” he asked as he pulled on a pair of jeans from the floor.

“Eggs, please.”

“Okay.” He leaned over her and placed a firm kiss against her lips. Then he left. After a moment, the sounds of pots banging together drifted from the kitchen.

Misty lay in bed, listening to the sounds for a moment before burying her face in the pillow again and letting out a giddy squeal.

After plumping the pillow, she got out of bed and reached for her dress. As she leaned down, Cody’s shirt lying on the floor caught her eye. Without stopping to think, Misty dropped the dress and threw on the shirt. His scent surrounded her and she breathed it in deeply, filling her lungs.

She glanced at her underwear, started to reach for it, and changed her mind. Maybe she’d have to surprise Cody by dropping a few things and bending over to retrieve them.

Using her finger, she brushed her teeth. It would have to do until she got home. No way would she use his tooth brush. Even though she’d kissed every inch of him, that seemed a bit too familiar. With a last look in the mirror, she left the room to join her man in the kitchen. Her man.

She paused in the entrance to the room. The table was still set from the night before, the uncorked bottle of wine left on a counter with unlit candles and red rose petals scattered over the surface. Last night, she’d been so absorbed by him, she’d barely noticed any of it. But now, the effort at romance made her throat tighten.

He still hadn’t noticed her, his back turned to the stove. In a way, the scene reminded her of the one she’d seen so many months ago between him and Samantha. But this time, he wasn’t with some lost girl he’d found on his property. She was his lover, whom he’d spent the previous night screwing every which way but down. Actually, a couple positions could be considered screwing down.

Creeping behind him, Misty wound her arms around his waist and put her head against his back. Her fingers traced the ridges in his stomach, enjoying the way they clenched under her exploration.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“For breakfast?” he asked, turning to face her.

“No.” She gestured around them. “For all of this. Guess I spoiled the romance. You had flower petals and candles in mind, and I turned on the porn.”

He laughed and pulled her into his arms, tucking her head underneath his shoulder. “So not only did I get credit for the romance, but I also got to act out a porn movie with you. You were right last night, I did win big.”

Nuzzling his throat, she smiled against his skin, then peeked her tongue out to taste. Hot, male, and musky. As his strangled moan rent the air, she felt powerful.

“Food first, then more of that.” But he swore, seeming unhappy with his decision.

With a final nip, she backed out of his arms.

“What can I do?”

“Nothing. It’s ready. All you need to do is sit down and enjoy.”

“My favorite kind of breakfast. One where I don’t have to work.”

He laughed as he set the plates on the table and held her chair out for her. “Not hunting?” he asked.

She didn’t even dignify that with an answer. Just stared at him until he laughed again and grabbed her hand.

“Forget I asked.”

“Already have,” she chirped, shoveling eggs into her mouth. She was famished. Incredible, considering she’d eaten an entire pizza by herself last night.

“So what’s on your agenda today?” he asked.

“I’ve got classes from noon ’til five today. You?”

“Prep for tonight’s town meeting.”

“Oh, shit. That’s right, I completely forgot.”

“What would you do without me?” He smirked at her from across the table, but whereas normally that look would piss her off, today it flooded her with warmth.

“Without you? Wear out my vibrator trying to get half the pleasure you gave me last night.”

The fork missed his mouth, but he didn’t seem to notice as he stared at her. Then in a rush, he jumped forward and pulled her up with him.

“Breakfast is over. Time for a shower.”

She laughed as he led her out of the room and down the hallway to his bedroom. The man had amazing stamina. And she didn’t even care that she hadn’t finished her eggs. Breakfast could wait.

Despite arriving fifteen minutes early, Misty found a crowd waiting outside town hall. She waved to a few people as she scanned the group for Cody, but gave up after the second sweep. He was probably busy with the skulk’s elders or the fire chief. Rumors were running wild after word had gotten out about the fire. No doubt tonight would put those to rest.

She caught sight of Jen and Jarrod standing with a group of people. But as she moved toward them, a feminine hand curled around her arm.

“Misty, dear. We haven’t seen you in ages.”

Warning bells clanged loudly in her head, but it was too late. There was nothing she could do now but face the woman. With a deep breath, she turned to face Cody’s mother.

“Hi, Mrs. Mattherson. How are you tonight?”

“Mom, dear. I told you to call me Mom.” Their conversations always started this way. For years, she’d been asking Misty to call her Mom. But now, it was especially awkward considering all that had happened between Cody and her.

“Yes, of course,” she mumbled. “If you’ll excuse me, I see someone I need to talk to.”

But Mrs. Matherson tightened her hold, leaned in, and sniffed her neck. After her yoga classes, she’d gone home and taken another shower. Surely she didn’t still smell like the man? After showering at his place before her classes, she’d caught some speculative looks from some of her students, but no one had dared to comment.

“Well, I wish I had caught you before you washed my boy’s scent off, but I can’t tell you how happy I am you two have finally gotten together. Took you long enough.”

Someone must have called her. This was not good. All she needed was for Cody to blame her for his mother learning his bedroom habits.

“It’s not what you think–”

“Stop that now. As if I didn’t see the way you two always stare at each other. I expect both of you for dinner sometime soon.”

“We’ll be there on Friday,” Cody said from behind Misty, his arm circling her shoulders. The voice rolled through her, sending a bolt of pure lust spiraling down her gut.

She shivered and felt his arm tighten around her.

“Friday it is. Bring dessert.” Then she left them alone.

“I wasn’t the one who told her,” she said, turning to him.

“I know.” He leaned down and placed a firm kiss against her lips. “I missed you.” And wasn’t that just perfect?

“I missed you, too,” she managed before his lips swooped down again, this time ravishing hers. His tongue swept inside, burying her under a tidal wave of need. All she could do was grip his shoulders and trust him to see her through.

A couple people around them clapped after they broke apart. A part of her wanted to hit him for the boorish display of possession–he might as well have told the skulk, “hands off, she’s mine.” But another part of her leapt for joy. It wasn’t as strong as marking her, but they had just had sex for the first time last night. To think two nights ago, she’d been ready to leave. All things considered, she’d made remarkable progress.

“Come on. Let’s get this show on the road.” Leading the way, he pulled her into the building and sat her in the first row. The rest of the skulk filed in behind them. Cody took the stage and quieted the crowd.

At first, Cody’s words flew past her as she studied him, devouring him with her eyes. Everything about him showed control. Power simmering just beneath the surface. As a fox, he didn’t have the strength of the wolves or the speed of the cats, but in a fight, she trusted him to hold his own. By whatever means necessary. And he was all hers.

Without warning, the hall exploded in whispered conversations. Misty looked around as tension blanketed the room. Maybe she should have been paying attention instead of ogling Cody.

“Did he say the fire was deliberately set?” Jen asked from her right. When had she gotten there?

“Everyone calm down. We are still investigating the matter. But until we figure this out, we need the whole town to be on alert. If you see anything suspicious, call me, or Brad. For now, it would be best if everyone stick close to home for a few days. Don’t go out of town unless absolutely necessary. If you do leave skulk land, be extra vigilant. That’s all we can do until we have more to work with. As long as we stick together, there’s nothing to fear.”

A sense of peace filled her. Such confidence infused his voice, she had no choice but to believe he would make everything okay. As she looked at the other members of the skulk, she noticed a few worried faces, but most held a trust similar to what filled her. Cody was their Premier, not because he was among the strongest–although he was–but because he inspired confidence. They would all follow him wherever he led.