“That’s usually the way it goes.”
Meghan was still smiling when she went with the men to show them where to take the furniture.
Laurel saw CJ’s pleased expression before she ran up the stairs and entered her bedroom. She had nearly finished packing the second bag when she heard footfalls on the stairs and looked up to see CJ entering her room.
“Can I help you with packing?” The tension in his body gone, he looked relieved that she was packing some of her things so she could stay with him. She had to admit that moving out felt weird when her sisters were staying behind.
“No thanks. I’ve got it. Did you get ahold of Eric?”
“Yeah. He’s going to meet us there and help us sort through the stuff.”
“It’s not going to be too upsetting for you both, is it?”
“No. It’s way past time to do this. Brett and Sarandon will be by a little later. We’re going to discard what no one wants, and if anyone wants any of it, we’ll sort it out.”
“All right.” She finished packing and CJ took the bags.
“Meghan sure seemed glad to see that you are moving out.”
Laurel smiled. “Only because I’m not fighting with you and I’m not going to uproot them again. But I have to say that each of my sisters has always been delighted about moving. Until we settled here. It just feels like home. Like we belong. I don’t know how it could when our aunt went missing from here.”
“It’s the pack.”
“Yes. And the town. But especially you.”
CJ put her bags down and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry for not telling you about the skeleton last night. I love you, Laurel. I don’t want anything to come between us.”
She hugged him tight. “I just want to learn the truth and put this behind us. Especially if someone in the pack murdered her, and he or she is still here.”
CJ kissed her mouth. “Agreed.”
“After we look through the boxes, would you mind if we visited the pit where you fell?”
“We can do that. We haven’t eaten yet. Did you want to do that first?”
“Okay, we can drop my bags at your place…”
“Our place.”
She smiled a little. “Haven’t gotten used to that idea yet. Or I could make something here.”
“My place.”
She suspected he wanted a little privacy.
“What are you thinking concerning the pit?” He carried her bags downstairs, and she followed him.
“I don’t know how to explain it. But ever since I learned that you’d been injured there, then the skeleton was found, and the white wolf had visited you as if to see if you were all right, I’ve had this compelling urge to go there. What if the white wolf is hanging around the area?”
“If we manage to fall into the pit, he might come check us out. But I seriously doubt, as elusive as he is, that he’ll freely come to us. He didn’t even howl for help.”
“That could be because no one would know his howl. Don’t you think?”
“Could be.”
They found Meghan in the dining room, sifting through the photos. “Did you pay Jacob for his time?” Laurel asked, realizing he’d already left.
“No need. He’s gone, but he said he wished he could have found a false bottom or something to help us. He said if we have any trouble with any electrical wiring, just give him a call and he’ll be right over.”
“Thanks, Meghan. I’ll call you later if we locate anything.”
“Same here.”
Laurel hoped they’d find something in Sheridan’s effects to help them, and yet she hoped they wouldn’t if it proved he had anything to do with their aunt’s disappearance.
Chapter 19
CJ had every intention of making up to Laurel for last night and this morning after he’d burned their breakfast. He wanted to make a fresh start.
When they got to his house, he turned off the security alarm right away. Before he could even carry her bags up to the bedroom, Laurel began removing her clothes. She was only ditching her coat, gloves, and hat—winter weather gear—but the way she was doing it had him intrigued and smiling.
She dumped them on the carpeted living room floor, piece by piece, not hanging her hat or coat on the coatrack. She yanked off one snow boot and then the other as she continued on her way upstairs to the master bedroom.
He thought she might just be planning to change into her cute, fuzzy slipper boots while they ate lunch. But something about the way she was moving, her hips swaying a bit, and the way she was tossing her clothes in a flirtatious manner indicated she was being her playful self again. Only this time with sexual overtones.
Carrying her bags, he followed behind her, stopping when she paused to pull off one sock and then the other, tossing them over her shoulder in a come-hither way. One bounced off his chest, the other off his crotch, his cock already swelling with interest. “Are you leaving a trail for me?”
She glanced over her shoulder. “If you hurry, you might get something.”
He had planned to make love to her after they had something to eat and before they went to Eric’s house. But this worked even better.
When they reached the bedroom, he dumped her bags on the floor and pulled out his phone.
She yanked off her sweater and threw it at him.
Grinning, he caught it, got hold of his brother, and said, “Hey, Eric, we’ll be there a little later than we planned.”
“Gotcha.”
CJ ended the call, tossed the phone and Laurel’s sweater to the foot of the bed, and tackled his playful mate, pinning her to the mattress before he began kissing her. He loved this. She was still too dressed in her jeans and bra, but he loved her playfulness and wanted to draw out the fun. He was glad they were back to this stage in their new mating.
Her heart was beating faster, her green eyes dark and sultry, her mouth curved in a half smile as she began yanking his shirttail out of his jeans. And all that sexy she-wolf was his. His mate. His love.
The room was cool, but rubbing his body against hers, his jeans against hers, with the heat building between them, he felt like every cell was on fire. He breathed in the tangy, citrusy scent of her, the sweetness and spiciness.
Her breasts rising and falling, she breathed him in just as eagerly. Her hands fumbled with his buttons, while he rubbed against her jeans-covered mound, wanting to savor the sensation of all her softness pressed against his hardness.
Burning desire flooded every bit of him as he ached to fill her with his cock, but he took it slowly, unfastening her bra—glad it unsnapped in the front—and pulling the lace aside so he could ply her nipples with his tongue.
When he mouthed her, she groaned a little. She tried to yank his shirt off. He quickly pulled it off and tossed it aside.
She slid her hands up his chest, her touch warm and tender. She ran her palms over his nipples. He groaned a little at how sensitive they were with the silky contact.
She smiled wickedly, then wriggled her hand between them to stroke him through his jeans. Not to be outdone, he moved a little off her so he could do the same through her jeans, the fabric molding to her clit.
But with his move, she started to tackle his belt, trying to unfasten it. He rolled off her and unbuckled it. But then he realized he hadn’t even taken off his boots and let out a frustrated groan.
She laughed and removed her jeans and her bra, then got on the floor and began untying his bootlaces.
He tangled his fingers through her satiny red hair, loving the soft feel of it. She made him hot just with her fingers untying his laces, the anticipation killing him. He wanted to help, but he wanted to savor this too.
After she tugged off his boots and socks, she slid her hands up his jeans-covered thighs, a wickedly devious smile playing on her lips and in her eyes. Her thumbs stroked up his cock, already rock hard and ready for action, the erotic sensation making it throb with pent-up need. She peeled his jeans down, and he rose from the bed so she could finish pulling them off.