Don't Moose With Her (Bearbank Book 1) (10 page)

“Aww... spoilsport,” he teased her, watching her blush.

He carried her into the bathroom and settled her on the edge of the bath. Leaning over, he turned on the taps, testing the water until it was warm.

“I can do that,” Dana pointed out, exasperation clear in her voice.

“I know,” he said simply. He found that he enjoyed doing things for his mate. He had never expected that. Hearing about the mating bond all his life, he had expected the attraction, although the sheer overwhelming force of it had taken him by surprise. The protective instinct had been expected too. These tender feelings of wanting to look after his mate, do simple things for her, he had never considered that before. It felt right. Natural.

Bath steadily filling, he turned to look at Dana. She looked back. They stood quietly and awkwardly for a minute, just looking at each other. She looked away first.

“I can take it from here,” she said quietly, dismissing him.

He nodded. Every part of him wanted to stay but he knew he hadn’t earned that right. Not yet. He left her in the bathroom and stood outside for a moment. He heard the rustle of her clothes hitting the floor and he swallowed hard. He listened as she lowered herself in the water, making little splashing sounds. His mate was wet and naked, only a thin door between them. His wolf whined inside his head, unable to understand why they were on this side of the door. He moved away, unable to torture himself any further.

Returning to the living room, he called Leo. Within ten minutes, Leo was at the door with a bag of Ethan’s clothes.

“Thanks,” he said, taking the bag from Leo.

“No problem,” Leo said. “I was actually pretty nearby when you called. How did she take the news that you’re staying?”

Ethan sighed. “Reluctantly but she’s not fighting me. I think she’s pretty spooked by it all. Hell, I’m spooked by it. Any word on the text yet?”

Leo shook his head. “It came from a burner phone. No way to trace it. It’s not even the same number as the previous texts. He must change the phones regularly.”

Ethan grunted. His enhanced hearing could still detect the sound of splashing from the bathroom. This was torture.

“Let me know if you want someone sent over to relieve you,” Leo said, turning to leave.

“I can handle it,” Ethan insisted. “Just keep me updated.”

Leo left and Ethan kicked his bag into the hall closet. He could hear the sound of the bath being drained, letting him know that Dana was finished with her bath. He waited outside the door until she came out, wrapped in a huge fluffy white robe. She was hobbling, clearly in pain.

“You’re not supposed to be walking,” he said. This time she didn’t even complain when he picked her up. She smelled clean and fresh. He liked the scent of her soap but he preferred the more subtle, underlying scent that was all Dana.

She insisted that he leave her alone in her bedroom to get dressed. It was probably for the best. He couldn’t concentrate with the thought of her naked under that robe and he didn’t want to do anything stupid, like seduce her while she was clearly still mad at him. It would only increase her anger at him later.

“Go find my crutches!” she yelled as he closed the door.

He stood outside her room for a minute, trying to control his thoughts, before he gave her peace to get dressed.

***

Dana looked at the closed door, listening until she heard him move away. She should have taken clean clothes into the bathroom with her but she hadn’t thought of it at the time. Dressed only in a robe, she had felt vulnerable facing Ethan. Thankfully, he hadn’t made any smart remarks, although she could clearly smell his attraction to her. Too many damn pheromones in the air.

She hobbled to the wardrobe, wincing with every step. Her body was starting to stiffen up and her leg was really hurting now. She pulled out underwear, clean jeans and a T-shirt and dressed as quickly as she could. Sore and exhausted, she sat on the bed, unwilling to cause herself any more pain by attempting to walk. So, she could either sit on the bed for several days or she’d have to call out for Ethan. She was tempted to stay where she was but she was hungry. Lunch seemed like an awfully long time ago. Dammit. Looked like she’d have to swallow her pride.

“Ethan” she called.

She heard his footsteps approach and the door opened.

“Yes, dear?” he said. A smile played at the corner of his mouth.

She took a deep breath. Then another. Gritted her teeth and swallowed her pride. “Can you help me back to the kitchen? I’m hungry.”

“No problem,” he said pleasantly. For what felt like the millionth time, he picked her up and carried her. He was always gentle and being in his arms made her moose sigh happily. She loved his scent and had to resist the urge to bury her face in his neck and sniff.

He placed her on the sofa in the living room and walked towards the kitchen.

“What do you want?” he asked, looking back at her.

Now there was a loaded question. Getting her mind out of the gutter, she asked “You can cook?”

He shrugged. “Sorta.” Ah, not reassuring.

“Ah, maybe we should get take out. If you can go get it,” she suggested. “I don’t need to be poisoned on top of everything else.”

“I’m not that bad,” he complained. “I’m just more of a heating things up kind of guy. I’m not leaving you here but I can call someone else and have them drop off some food.”

She sighed. Clearly she was not getting any alone time. Her wolf had her off-balance again and she was too tired, hurt, and worried to keep him at arm’s length. She could feel her attitude softening towards him, no matter how hard she tried to remain aloof. At the end of the day, he was her mate and she felt the constant pull towards him. If he insisted on staying here, she was worried that she might throw caution to the wind and give in. At the thought of what might happen then, she flushed and she felt herself get wet and ready for him. Judging by the flare of his nostrils, he knew exactly what effect he had on her. Could things get any worse?

The door bell rang.

Her mother and two of her brothers breezed into the house, leaving Ethan standing holding the door. Dana smirked at the confused look on his face.

“My poor baby,” her mother exclaimed, throwing her bag down and rushing to Dana.

“How did you know?” Dana asked, half-heartedly fending off her mother’s overly enthusiastic hug. “Ow, ow. Sore ribs.”

“Frankie found out from Katie’s brother. The one with the hair,” her mother said, plumping the cushions behind Dana.

“They all have hair, mum,” Dana pointed out, amused.

“No, no, the one with THE hair. You know, Goldilocks.” Her mother waved her hand around her head to indicate said hair.

“Oh, THE hair,” Dana nodded. “That’s Felix.”

“Yes, him,” her mother agreed. “He told Frankie he had to go home and watch Katie because she was hurt and everyone else had to go to work. Then he asked how you were doing. Which was confusing… since none of us knew anything was wrong with you.” Her mother eyed her accusingly.

“It just happened!” Dana explained herself. “I was in moose form afterwards to heal faster, so I couldn’t call. No thumbs.” She lifted her hands, wiggling her thumbs.

Her mother gave Dana her world-famous stink eye. “Uhuh. And when exactly were you going to mention your little stalker problem? That didn't just happen. I'm your mother. I should know about these things.”

“Yeah, sis,” Frankie piped up from where he was sprawled on a chair. “Most exciting thing to happen to this family in ages and you didn’t share.”

“Hey,” Dana squealed. “We’re talking about a psycho wanting to kill me! It’s not family entertainment.”

“It is for our family,” came the voice of her brother, Kyle, from the kitchen. Where he seemed to be raiding her cupboards, probably looking for her chocolate stash. Hah! As though she’d keep it somewhere that obvious. This wasn’t her brother’s first visit.

“It’s not personal,” Frankie shrugged. “We just get bored.”

“Franklin Joseph Roberts,” her mother scolded. “Your sister’s imminent, messy demise is not entertainment.”

“Gee, thanks mum,” Dana rolled her eyes. “Way to make me feel better.”

“Oh, my poor baby,” her mother sniffed, patting her arm. “We won’t let that nasty killer get you. How dare he mess with a member of the Roberts herd. Your father won’t stand for it.”

Dana smiled. Her family were a little nuts but they were hers and she knew that they would do anything to protect her. She already felt safer now that she was surrounded by them. Not to mention a certain wolf.

“Where is Dad?” she asked, smiling up at her mother who had once again enveloped her in a bear hug, er… moose hug.

“Just outside. He’ll be in shortly. He’s on the phone to the police department giving them hell for not protecting you better.” Her mother squeezed her again and Dana chose not to protest even though it hurt her ribs.

“Awwww, that’s so sweet,” Dana smiled.

Looking over at the door, she saw Ethan still standing there, holding the door open and looking confused. She couldn’t contain her snort of laughter at the bewildered expression on his face. Unfortunately, her mother thought she was crying and pulled her in closer, making shushing sounds and threatening violence on anyone who hurt any of her babies.

Eventually managing to break free of her mother’s hold - seriously, was that woman part boa constrictor? - she looked up in time to see her father walk through the door, glancing briefly at Ethan before making his way to Dana.

“You alright?” he grunted.

“Yeah, Dad,” Dana nodded. “Just a few bruises and a sore leg. I’m glad you’re here.”

Her father nodded and grunted. He was a man of few words. He dropped into the only free chair and turned on the TV, eyes glued to the screen.

“Ethan,” Dana called. “You can close the door now.”

Startled, Ethan looked at the door he was holding and finally closed it. He looked at her family, still standing rooted to the spot.

“Who is he?” her mother asked, looking him over. Clearly measuring him up for suitability for her daughter. Like she did with most unrelated men around Dana’s age.

“Bodyguard,” Dana answered at the same time as Ethan said “Mate.”

They both glared at each other and Dana heard her mother snort.

“It’s like that, is it?” her mother laughed. “Never mind our Dana, son. She tends to play hard to get.”

“Mum!” Dana exclaimed, blushing several shades of red.

“Yeah, good luck mate,” Frankie snorted.

Her father grunted and changed channel.

“What did I miss?” Kyle asked through a mouthful of crisps, as he sat down on the floor, arms full of several large bags of crisps.

“The bloke at the door is Dana’s mate,” Frankie said, reaching down to snaffle some crisps.

Kyle looked at Ethan. “Good luck. She’s kinda difficult.”

“Quit saying that!” Dana yelled. “I am not difficult.” She ignored the four identical moose snorts from her family. “And fine, he might technically be my mate but I’m not claiming him. And he’s not claiming me. There will be no claiming.”

Frankie looked at Ethan. “See? Good luck.”

Dana growled. Ethan looked at her helplessly. Yeah, if anything would change his mind about her, it would be meeting her family. Oh well, she wanted him to go away. Right? Maybe. Ugh!

Kyle opened his mouth to say something smart and she decided to play mean. It was either that or punch him until he shut up but her mother would probably object.

“So, guys,” she asked sweetly. “How’s Lisa?” The one topic guaranteed to start a fight between these two. They both liked this girl and she had been stringing them both along, refusing to choose. Dana suspected that the girl liked them fighting over her and would lose interest if only one brother was chasing her. It seemed liked an awful lot of bother for a girl who wasn’t even their mate.

“She’s fine,” Frankie answered, eyes narrowed, knowing full well what she was up to. Tough. He started it.

Kyle growled. “Keep your filthy hooves off her, Frankie. Lisa is mine.”

Frankie returned the growl. “She is not. She’s mine. She likes me better than you. She only dates you out of pity.”

Kyle snorted. “No, she dates you out of pity. She dates me because I’m awesome.” The brothers glared at each other.

“Now, now boys,” her mother said. “Don’t you be fighting over a girl. You don’t want to end up like your uncles George and William.”

“Why?” Dana asked, curious. “What happened to them?” She hadn’t heard this story before. Out the corner of her eye, she noticed that Ethan had finally entered the room, although he was still pretty much hugging the walls. Still, he was doing better than Kyle's last girlfriend. The girl was probably still running.

Her mother sighed. “When they were younger, your Uncle George and Uncle William both liked the same girl. They made terrible fools of themselves chasing her. Anyway, there was a dance coming up and they were both determined to take this girl. Got into a terrible fight over it.”

“What happened?” Frankie asked, sitting forward and still glaring at Kyle.

“They shifted during the fight and started fighting as moose,” her mother said, shaking her head. “Damn fools got their antlers locked together and couldn’t get free. They were stuck like that for ages.”

“Yeah, but who got the girl?” Kyle shot Frankie a look.

“Neither of them,” her mother snorted. “The girl went to the dance with someone who didn’t have his brother stuck to his head.” She fixed both sons with a steely gaze. “Now let that be a warning to you.”

“But mum,” Dana said, puzzled. “Why didn’t they just change back to human form?” The antlers would be gone and they'd have been freed.

Her mother sighed. “Because they’re idiots, sweetie. Neither wanted to be the first to give up. So they stayed as moose. We had to build a shelter over them and feed them. In the end, we had to tranquillize them and saw off their antlers to free them.”

“That’s just…” Dana stopped, lost for words.

“Stupid,” her father grunted, eyes still on the TV.