It was the gun that seemed to be trying to enter his forehead that finally had him letting go of Brandy. When she was jerked back from him, Lica growled, but it was Edmond who took care of the FBI agent who touched her. He shifted to his wolf so quickly that he didn’t see it coming. He knocked the man from Brandy and set himself on his chest with his paw digging deeply into his chest. He was sure that the wolf’s mouth around his throat was keeping him from speaking right then.

  “Wolves, especially alphas, are very possessive of their mates. I’d remember that next time if I were you. He could have ripped your throat out, and no one would have harmed him for protecting his alpha bitch.” The officer with the feds said that he’d kill him if he tried that with him. This time, it was Guy who shifted. The officer was flat on his back with a paw in his chest before he could touch his gun. Then, when Guy moved his mouth around his throat, the man whimpered. “Are you so sure about that?”

  “Okay, you have the bigger balls, Mr. Fraizer. If you promise not to hurt any more of my men, I’d like to get this cleared up. Mr. Slaven is saying that you made Mrs. Frazier take her money out of his bank.” He laughed a little. “I don’t even want to think about how that’s even possible. Your wife strikes me as a woman who does what she wants when she wants. She’s smart too.”

  “Thank you. I’m beginning to see that for myself. And yes, I promise that I won’t harm your men so long as they remember that I belong to her, and I will do anything to protect her. Anything.” The man nodded, and then Lica looked at Brandy before answering the question. “Sir, as you’ve guessed, I have never been more proud of my wife and family for what transpired today than at any other time in their lives. Mr. Slaven has been a tyrant for the last twenty years, and you can ask any shifter in this town about that.”

  Since they were all in a public place, crowded now with others who had come to see what was going on, the shifters started talking about how Slaven had kept them from getting a home loan. That he’d gotten them fired from their jobs when they were to go to the doctor, and Slaven wouldn’t allow them to withdraw money to see the doctor. So, no note, and that would cause them to lose their jobs.

  There were other horror stories like that. Mr. Caraway had had to bury his wife when Slaven had denied him a loan that would have given her a nurse to be with her during the day. It was Alan who told about how Slaven had canceled the check and order for the cattle that Lica had ordered.

  “It would have employed fifty more people in the town. Not to mention, it brought in revenue when we started building the slaughterhouse, which would employ more people.” Slaven said it was all lies, that all the Fraziers were a lazy lot. “Really? You have proof of this? Because I’ve been a businessman for all my life and these men are worthy. Men of worth, I have to tell you, isn’t something that you see all the time. Hell, had my daughter not been his wife, I think I might well adopt him as my son. All of them.” Alan smiled at him. “Can you imagine the kids these two will have? Hell, all of them having children will make this town and world a better place just because they’re in it.”

  “Thank you.” Alan hugged him and told him that he was serious about adopting him. “But for now, I’m going to have a lot of making up to do to your daughter.”

  Lica felt his eyes fill with tears when Brandy took his much larger hand into her tiny one. He, after locking his fingers through hers, kissed the back of her hand and paid attention to what was going on around him. He had a mate, a good one, and he really did have a lot of making up to do. The most important thing was he needed to tell her how profoundly sorry he was for every time he’d hurt her. And he knew that he had.

  Howard Slaven was arrested. The list of crimes that he’d committed against the shifters—prejudicial treatment on not just loans but canceling checks, denying access, as well as a plethora of other things was going to see him in prison for a very long time. The very fact that he had canceled a half-million dollar check that was paying for goods that were shipped out already was going to be under the mail fraud law, he’d heard. Christ, he was never so happy to see someone get into trouble than he was that bastard.

  By the time the bank was closed down, it would more than likely be that way for a few months. Arrangements were made for people to get money if they needed it. It was well after ten o’clock at night. He was exhausted but exhilarated as well. The family made their way to their homes, and he realized that his brothers were still living in the ranch house. It was crowded when he lived there with them, and he couldn’t believe that he’d not thought of them getting a house. More than likely, they would have been turned down, was his next thought.

  “I almost forgot. I heard from the attorney group that was with Green. He’s been arrested, I didn’t ask why, but he’s currently in jail. The company that his daughter took over is doing very well. I did go ahead and lend her the money, I should have told you that, but she isn’t going to expand right away. I suggested that she needed to use the extra money to make her employees, all of them, feel like they’re a part of something that is going places. She wants to get things back on the correct track, meaning her employees are all right with coming to work knowing that their benefits are being taken care of. She asked for ideas on how to make them feel like they’re all a team by start treating her employees to a lunch once in a while. Also, to hand out gift cards when she sees one of them doing something well. I have that kind of thing going on around a few of my businesses. Also, when she can afford it, I told her that she needs to figure out a way to close up during the holidays for two weeks for Christmas and pay her people.”

  “When I worked for Mr. Wilkins, he would work Christmas alone so that his men could have the day off. If he got into trouble, anyone of them would have come in to help. Also, while he worked the entire night before and the day of Christmas, his men would come in and spell him a bit so that he could go have his meals. When he passed away, everyone in town had a good story to tell about the Wilkins. They had a lot to do with us being the men that we are today.” She said that was a nice story. That she was also sure that people would say the same about him and his brothers. “I hope so. But it’s your view of me that is concerning me the most.”

  “I love you.” His breath caught when she smiled at him after declaring her love for him. He stood there, trying to form words around the lump in his throat, when he decided that he needed to just say what he was thinking all along about her.

  “I love you as well, Brandy Fraizer. I think I have since I met you, but I was just too…not stubborn but jaded to see that I could have a wonderful life with you if I just got my head out of my ass.” She agreed with him, which made him laugh. “Are you forever going to be telling me the truth, no matter what it’s about?”

  “Yes. You can count on that.” They were both exhausted but he did ask her if she’d sleep in the big bed with him. She said that she was too tired to walk down the hall and went to the bathroom to change, she said. While she was getting ready for bed, Lica got under the covers. He thought that he’d wait for her to come to bed but was out before she got out of the bathroom.

  Chapter 7

  Brandy woke wrapped around Lica. She’d heard that shifters run hotter than humans, but he was lying next to a furnace. For being a wolf, it surprised her that he wasn’t covered in hair. Not even his arms were overly hairy like she imagined that one would be.

  Lica was still sleeping soundly and quietly, so she took the opportunity to look at his face. It was a handsome face, she had always thought so, but it was hard, too. Like he was a working man. She wanted to make it so that he could be a man of leisure and not work so hard daily to make ends meet. But then she dismissed that thought when she realized that he’d be bored. Not to mention upset that she’d expect him to be inside lounging around the house every day. Brandy knew that she would be if she were to be just a housewife.

  When he opened one eye and looked at her, his smile made her heart skip several beats in her chest. She would only tell him this if he asked, but she thought since she’d fallen in love with him, he was the only reason that her heart beat at all. That she was able to breathe. The reason that air moved in and out of her lungs. Lica asked her if she’d been awake long, and she shook her head as he moved to his back, pulling her to him so that her head was across his chest.

  “No. Not long at all. I’m usually up by five-thirty most mornings anyway so that I can get most of any housework done that needs to be tidied up. Also, if I have a meeting first thing, I’ll be able to refresh my memory on things that I want to talk about. When are you up? I’m assuming that sleeping in to you is not a common thing.” He told her that he was usually up by dawn, he needed to get his chores done for the cattle. “I can see that. I’m thinking that, like you, they’re used to having you out there with them early, too. Is it true that you don’t eat breakfast until after you milk the cows?” She was serious but the look on Lica’s face had her laughing.

  “Yes. But since I’ve been expanding the herd, I’ve hired a few people to come in and get the milkers set up for them. So I can have a bit of meat when I get up, and I won’t expire too soon.” He laughed. “Yes, I have breakfast before I go to the barn to start working. Sheesh woman. Also, I don’t have many breeding cattle right now. Did I tell you that the Feds took care that the herd that Slaven cancelled is still going to come to me? Thank goodness for that. They’re even picking up the tab for what we did to help them with Slaven.” She told him that was wonderful. “It is. Since meeting you, I’ve never had so many things coming my way. Thanks to you.”

  “I didn’t do anything but believe in you. Which wasn’t hard. You already had…” She felt stupid when she said that and told him that. “I meant that all I did was provide you with the funds that—that’s not right either. I’m going to be quiet now before I say something completely stupid, and I have to leave the house before I get a shower.” He laughed with her.

  “I want you. I won’t even try and deny how much I want you. Even before I figured out what a dumbass I am, I still wanted you. But I have a meeting today at noon, and it’s important that I’m on time. It’s some…you know what? You should come with me. I’d love that. There are several hundred acres of land that is up for sale, and I’ve been asked to see it before it goes to market. I’ve been using the same realtor since we bought the first bit of land at the auction. She’s never steered me wrong, and I trust her to disclose everything about the property, too.” She asked him if it was the Apple Farm. “Yes. You’ve already purchased it, haven’t you?”

  “No. Dad was thinking of buying it if he came to market. But I don’t think he ever expected it to hit the market in his lifetime. The son, he’s about my age and will more than likely get it when they’re finished with the background checks on who else might be out there. From what I heard, his parents didn’t have a will. My mom has fallen in love with the cabin that is set up in the woods behind the main house. It was put there by the couple to live near their son when he was able to move in. But the parents died. I’ve not been keeping up with everything, so I might well have missed a great deal. I’ve never seen the house nor the cabin, but Mom has been wanting it since Mr. Apple and his wife died. I wonder why it took so long to come to market.” Lica told her what he’d been told. “I hear about that sort of thing happening all the time with elderly people, them not having a will. But their son dying? I didn’t know anything about that. And he didn’t have a will either? How sad. Not having a will or anyone to leave their things to ends up being in probate for years.” He asked if she had one. “I do. It’s not been updated since I met you, so I guess we’ll have to get on that. My parents have theirs all made out, I think. But to see the house and land? Yes, I would love to go with you. Would you mind if Mom and Dad were to come with us?”

  “No, I don’t mind at all if they were to come with us. I love your parents. They’re wonderful people.” She agreed with him. “They did a great job in raising you too. You’re brilliant.”

  “You don’t need to butter me up, Lica. I’m going to have sex with you.” He got up laughing. Telling her that he was going to take a shower, she got up herself. Moving around the layout of the bedroom always irritated her. The whole house seemed to be laid out oddly. Walls that were just there. Also, and this bothered her more than anything, none of the windows matched. Even if they were in the same room. Some would be short, some tall. There was one room where it looked as if the windows had been put in sideways. It was then that it occurred to her that she didn’t like this house. And she hadn’t since she’d seen it the first time. But it was close to her parents’ home then when she needed a place to live. There was something so sad about how it seemed to tell her that the previous owners hadn’t enjoyed it either.

  Thinking about the windows, she decided to call someone to have all the windows replaced while it was still warm enough to get it done. Then, she was going to have all the carpets pulled up. They were about twice the age of her and she hated carpeting in the bedrooms. She put that on her list of things to do today. She went into the bathroom while Lica was showering.

  “Would you like to live in the big house there if the house is livable? I just decided that I don’t want to live here. I’m going to have the windows replaced before we sell it as well as the carpets taken up. This house needs to be cleaned up and made to balance. I want to start a new life with you, and this house isn’t going to be good for us.” He asked her how long that would take. “I don’t know, to be honest. But if it seems like it’s taking too long, we’ll hire more people to make it happen faster.”

  “I know that the other house has been sitting empty for a while. It might be just too old to do much with. What would you do with this house?” She told him that one of his brothers could have it if they wanted it. “Edmond loves this house. He did mention that he didn’t care for the windows being all whopper-jawed, but I can see him living here.”

  “Good. We’ll take care of that when we figure out what to do with the land. If the house isn’t worth the effort of cleaning it up, then we’ll build. That will take longer, but it’ll be more in line with what we’re wanting.” She put that on her list, too. She loved lists. “We’re going to need to hire a full staff. With both of us working, a house of any size will get out of hand in no time.”

  When he turned the water off, she stepped out of the bathroom. They were really running behind, and she was sure that if she saw him in all his glory, they’d never leave the house. He was laughing when he came out of the bathroom with a towel, not nearly big enough to wrap around his waist, when she entered the bathroom to get her shower. Brandy screamed when he opened the shower door and joined her in the large stall.

  “We’re just going to be late, I’m afraid.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he pressed her against the wall. “Christ, I love you.

  Lica bit her lip, and she nearly came. As his teeth sank into her lips so hard that she cried out with it. When he dropped to his knees in front of her, she knew that she was going to come soon and she couldn’t wait. Brandy was so wet she was embarrassed by it. Not even the shower was enough to cover up how it seemed to flow from her body.

  “I need to taste you, Brandy. I want to see if you taste as wonderful as you smell.” He pulled her to him by way of grabbing her ass. She cried out again when he nipped at her thigh. “Sit down on the shower seat, love. I want to feel you come down my throat.”

  Her body was responding before her mind could come up with a reason why this was a bad idea to be having this kind of sex in the shower. Lica was between her legs, which he’d put on either side of his head before she could protest if she was ever going to. As soon as he pulled her clit into his mouth, she cried out his name and came. Never had anything made her feel this way.

  He ate her like he was never going to stop. The more he took from her, the more he gave her, the more she wanted. Every time he bit down on her clit, she came crying out his name. Every time he slid his tongue into her sheath, she knew she was soaking him. When he slid his fingers into her, she rode his hand, her hips coming up off the seat like he was fucking her. It was then that she realized that she wanted him to make her scream while he was deep inside of her.

  “Come for me again. Come and let me drink from you again.” She leaned back, her body so taunt with need that when he sucked her clit into his mouth as he stretched her with his fingers, she bowed up off the seat and begged for him to slow down in one breath and to make her come quickly in the next. He never stopped taking her, even when he begged him to stop.

  When he stood up over her, she could see that his cock looked painfully full. The thought of him taking her, his thick cock entering her, she knew that it was going to hurt. But instead of sliding into her like they both wanted, he fisted his cock until long streams of his precum fell onto her. Not even the warmth spraying over the two of them could wash it away. It was coming so fast.

  “I wasn’t going to take you the first time against the wall here in the stall. I thought about the bed, but it’s simply too far away.” He moaned when she reached for him. “Honey, you touch me, and it’s going to be over right now. I want to come all over you. Have my cum spray all over your pretty pussy until you come again. Tell me you want it. Tell me, Brandy, tell me you want me.”

  “Please.” He leaned over her and took her mouth. She could feel the head of his cock just at her breasts. When he bowed back, lifting his head from her, he roared out as he came all over her. The heat of it felt wonderful. Each time it touched her in a different place, she would rub it into her flesh. Her nipples got the most of his cum, and she licked her fingers as she took some of it to her mouth. His loud growl had her nearly coming again.