In the Loup Box Set #1: Werewolf Shifter Romance

Chapter 4

4

She rummaged around in her bag for a fresh pair of clothes for dinner and dashed into the bathroom. The window was partially open and she could feel a light brush of night air drifting inside. It wasn’t enough to bother her unless a wind blew into the room, so she kept it open. She turned on the hot water and stripped. It felt so good to step beneath that cascading stream of water. As she scrubbed and massaged the stress out of her tense muscles, she thought about just staying there for an hour.

Stephanie noticed the shower curtain move, and she glanced to the window. A small breeze had wafted inside the room. She didn’t pay attention to any of that, however. Her eyes were fixed on the waning moon hovering in the sky. Its slow progression among the stars entranced her.

She suddenly felt this strange yearning growing inside her. Her hot skin flushed with a delicious, thrilling shiver of heat. She never looked away from that moon, though, even as her hand reached up and grasped the wall. Her heart beat faster and her breathing came out in wisps of soft, needy gasps. She felt like she was on fire, and that the water rushing over her was a cold stream dampening that heat.

Before she knew what she was doing, she’d stepped out of the running shower. Her wet feet left watery footprints on the floor as she stepped over to the window. Her soft, bright eyes were wide with wonder at the glowing marvel. She pressed herself against the wall as she glimpsed the moon high above. Her body was aching for something she could almost reach, and she felt the moon offered her that release.

Her bare breasts brushed against the rough paneling and she gasped. Those sensitive mounds of flesh were bulging with a need she couldn’t satiate. Her whole self shivered as she reached up and grasped the window sill with both hands. Her slick legs rubbed together and caused sweet friction between her wet thighs.

Stephanie leaned her head back and groaned. It felt so good, but still not enough. She pushed harder against the wall and her legs pressed against each other with more pressure, but it still wasn’t enough. Her heavily lidded eyes glistened as they gazed up at the moon. That something was in the sky there, but she couldn’t reach it.

That thought made her almost want to weep, but those soft rays floated down to her. They comforted her and brought on more heat, but more need. She began to rock against the wall, and her feet scraped against the wet linoleum floor to push harder. She needed to go faster. The need demanded to be satiated. Her breathing came out in rasps. Her hands tightly gripped the sill as her pert breasts rubbed against the wall. She could feel her body reaching for something just out of reach. It was oh so close. She was almost able to touch it. Another groaned escaped her wet, full lips.

“Boss?” Chuck called from the other side of the door. “You okay in there?”

His voice snapped Stephanie out of her trance. She looked around the room and then down at herself. She was naked and wet, and standing beneath the open window. The breeze that wafted through was cold now, and she hurriedly reached out and wrapped her towel around herself.

“I-I’m fine,” Stephanie stuttered out. She tried to force her heart rate down so her voice didn’t sound so out of breath. Her face was beat red from having been caught in such an embarrassing position, even if he was still on the other side of the door. “Just…just enjoying the shower.”

“You sure?” he persisted. “I thought I heard something.”

“It was just me,” she truthfully, if deceitfully, replied. She heard him jiggle the door knob. “I’m almost done,” she snapped. She didn’t mean for her voice to sound so mean, but he’d ruined something gorgeous. She had no idea what had happened, but she wanted it to come again. “Just give me a few minutes.”

“All right, but you’d better hurry,” Chuck insisted. “I kind of forgot to go to the bathroom before you went in there.”

Stephanie rolled her eyes. Sometimes his sensibility flew right out the window, and especially since last night. She quickly dressed and opened the door to find him standing not far off. If he’d had his legs crossed she might have believed he was desperate for the toilet, but he looked more interested in seeing that she really was okay than pushing passed her.

“Well?” she asked as she stepped aside.

“Oh, right,” he quickly remembered. He grabbed a pile of new clothes and rushed passed her, but that confirmed her suspicions. He was worried about her.

As she glanced back at the windows and the moon which had sunk behind the trees, she started to worry about herself. There’d be more time for that, however, after they got home. Then maybe she’d get that wounds on her arm looked at by a doctor. Even after the cleansing shower the scratches still looked irritated. She’d really rubbed her skin raw with her unconscious itching.

Then her stomach growled.

“Better get finished up,” she scolded to herself.

Stephanie had just finished drying her hair when he came back out, dressed and ready for food. They stepped out of their room and headed for the dining hall downstairs.

“We have to be careful with what we order,” Chuck quietly informed her. “This place has some pretty price menu items.”

“I’ll make sure not to eat too much, mom,” Stephanie joked.

Since they were staying at the lodge out of season, they were quickly seated and handed some menus. Stephanie drooled at the listing of steaks cooked to any order specifications. Chuck noticed her hungry eyes and raised a brow in question, but she reined in her overtly obvious jubilation.

“I’m guessing you’ve found what you want,” he dryly commented.

“Maybe…” she teased. The waiter came back with some glasses of water.

“Are you ready to order?” he pleasantly asked.

“Yes,” Stephanie quipped. She pointed down at the steak menu. “I’ll have the large size t-bone steak, cooked medium rare.”

“Are you sure, ma’am?” the waiter hesitated to accept. “Even excluding the bones, that’s a good pound of meat.”

“Positive,” she affirmed with a nod. “And I’ll have a side order of Caesar salad,” she added. She turned to Chuck, but he couldn’t match her smile. He looked worried. “Your turn,” she pointed out.

“Oh, um, I’ll have the medium t-bone steak, medium rare, too,” he ordered.

The waiter took their menus and left with a very curious look on his face. Chuck turned to his partner with a deep frown.

“What?” Stephanie asked. “I didn’t order the most expensive thing on there,” she commented. That was in the seafood section, and she was hungry for something a little more raw.

“You sure you’re feeling all right?” he questioned.

“I feel fine, especially after that shower,” she sighed. She couldn’t wait to get home and away from this worry wort. “You’re just overreacting.”

“And you need a doctor,” he lowered his voice so no one else could hear. “That mark on your arm looks worse.”

“Well, it doesn’t hurt, so I don’t need to go,” she pointed out. She hated going to the doctor’s office, anyway. “So can we just eat our dinner and go to bed?” The long car ride had made her body stiff and tired. A good rest is what she needed.

“Yeah, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Chuck countered.

Stephanie childishly rolled her eyes, but didn’t deign to reply. Their meal was soon brought to them, and they both did justice to the delicious food. She worked fast along her t-bone, and finished almost as soon as Chuck, though his was a third as large as her own. She ignored the pointed looks from her partner, and they left the table satisfied but a little more poor.

When they got back to their room it was still early night, but Stephanie was ready to hit the hay. She dressed in her pajamas and emerged from the bathroom to find Chuck had made a pretty nice bed on the floor. He’d even confiscated one of her pillows for his use. He didn’t, however, dress for bed.

“Not going to join me?” she suggestively teased as she slid beneath the covers.

“I’m not too tired yet,” he informed her. He glanced out at the night. “Maybe I’ll go take a walk outside.”

“Just don’t go into any dark alleys,” Stephanie pointedly remarked. That caught his attention, and she turned away when he looked at her.

“So something happened in there, didn’t it?” he accused. “Is that where you got those marks?”

“It was nothing,” she brushed off. He wouldn’t believe her. Maybe the moon had played tricks on her mind then, too, like it had in the bathroom. “Just ran into some boxes down the alley.”

He glared at her with doubt in his eyes. She didn’t like that look one bit, but more because she knew she was lying to him. He had a right to be mad at her.

“Well, as soon as you want to tell me, I’ll be available,” he offered.

Before she could stop him Chuck had marched out of the room. Tears came to Stephanie’s eyes. She hadn’t meant to hurt her friend like that. She thought of running out after him, but that would have embarrassed them both. Besides, she wasn’t some lying lover bent on redemption. They were business partners. They needed to act professionally.

“And stop lying to each other,” she mumbled.

Stephanie pulled the covers up over her and hugged the pillow to herself. She didn’t think she would ever fall asleep with all these thoughts floating around her head, but dreams have a way of sneaking up on people. Her eyes grew heavy, and before she knew what was happening she had drifted off into slumber.