Running Free (Woodland Creek)(26)

His memory of his mother brings a smile to my face. She was so pretty and her love for him radiated from the picture. Despite having lost her as a teenager, he knew a love like I never experienced.

One day, I want to be like her. I want to love my own children like she loved Gunnar. The thought sends a quiver through my body. I’ve always hated the idea of kids — the thought of bringing them into this harsh world seemed cruel. But now, with Gunnar stroking my hair and telling stories of his mother, I find myself imagining a future where I can be like his mother.

The thought should scare me but instead, I am comforted.

“Anyway, a young boy should not be left to his own devices for hours on end. And after one too many times of kicking my ball into a crate of dishes or throwing my frisbee into the fryer, the owner’s wife, Mrs. Buranek dropped a stack of old puzzles onto the table for me.”

“Hádanka.” The word coming from me doesn’t sound as beautiful but I like it anyway, especially after hearing the story.

“So, after that, I became obsessed,” he tells me fondly. “Before long, Mr. and Mrs. Buranek had all of their elderly friends donating their used puzzles for me to put together. Even though I was young, I’d power through them. I loved puzzles. I still do.”

He says the last part with a bit of hidden meaning and my skin heats. I’m a puzzle to him but he clearly enjoys the hell out of them. The thought warms my heart and I shiver with excitement. For once in my life, I’m happy and considering a future beyond myself.

“You’re cold. Let’s get you under the covers. I’m going to turn off all the lights and check on Cutie Pie.”

After he leaves, I crawl under the covers and am nearly asleep when I’m licked in the face.

“Ugh, get your horror story off me,” I complain with a giggle.

Gun gasps in faux shock. “Cutie Pie is the cutest thing either one of us has ever had the pleasure of seeing. You should bring Curly Sue next time to play with him.”

He sidles in behind me once the room has gone dark and Cutie Pie curls up in front of me. I want to tell him what I am. Explain that the little girl he clearly adores is in fact Curly Sue. But it won’t do any good. He won’t understand — can’t understand — and I’m not ready to lose him yet.

Yet.

The thought chills me and I shudder once again.

As if trying to warm me to my soul, Gun wraps his massive arm around my middle and draws me closer. Bitter tears well in my eyes. I don’t cry. I don’t f*cking cry.

But my tears make a liar of me and slip soundlessly out.

I’ll never have this. A man who loves me. Children to love unconditionally. The warmth of a supportive soulmate until I take my dying breath.

I’m destined to be alone.

Every shifter I’ve encountered is in some way a loner. Becoming a part of Luca’s pack will probably be the closest thing to a family I’ll ever get.

His breaths even out with sleep and I let out a garbled sob. Cutie Pie senses my despondency and snuggles closer to me. Despite my joking about the dog, I like him. He knows what it feels like to be left all alone.

But at the end of the day, he’s even luckier than I am.

At the end of the day he’s in Gun’s bed.

Not me.




“Earth to Frankie.”

I blink my eyes open and jerk my head over to Casey. Her arms are crossed over her small chest and she arches a blonde brow up in question.

“What?”

“You were thinking about him, weren’t you?”

My skin heats at the thought of Gun. Every solid muscle. Each crooked grin he’s flashed me. Every single orgasm he drew from me last night. How I slept with him over and over again all night long and once in my truck, all without a condom. The way his back muscles rippled with movement as he made me breakfast this morning.

He’s too beautiful.

And f*cking perfect.

And it pisses me off.

“He’s annoying,” I spit out.

Her giggle is cute and infectious. Even she knows that was a lie. “Oh, Frankie. You sure have it bad. Does this mean Luca is free to date?”

I snap my attention to her feigning ignorance yet again. It makes me wonder just how innocent she is behind that disarming schoolgirl smile.

“Luca is off limits. He’s—He’s—He’s… ” I trail off before finding a suitable reason. “He’s too rough for you.”

I’m not going to tell her it’s because she’s a human and he’s a f*cking Wolf shifter. Humans and shifters simply don’t mix.

Except Gun and I.

I swallow down the double standard and snatch a rag to go clean some surface — anything to get away from her pouting. This evening, the crowd is starting to pick up and I’m thankful for the reprieve. At least Otis is taking care of Suzie tonight and I can focus on work.

But my thoughts drift to Gun at every free moment.

I’ve worked myself into such a heated frenzy about him that I don’t even hear the door open, letting more patrons in.

A bunch of guys start barking and howling, jerking my attention to the door. Luca and his pack fill the doorway with their massive frames and knowing smirks.

“What?” I demand.

Winston, a Tiger shifter, is the first to speak. “Our girl got it good last night.”