Page 10 of Midnight Whispers (Forbidden Entanglements #1)
Chapter Ten
I t didn’t look right for a Fortune Falls deputy to sneak outside someone’s home. And it wasn’t just anyone’s house, but the sheriff himself. Cass had sunk to a new low.
He also felt like a stalker. He could see Riley through the window, curled up on the couch. He wore blue pajama bottoms and a matching long-sleeved T-shirt. The pants had little cats all over them, and his shirt had a big black cat in the center of his chest. The cat had big green eyes and smiled. The words "cat lady" were above the cat’s head like a word cloud.
Iven sat in a recliner. He wore jeans and a sweater, which meant he was ready if a call came in. He’d sleep in those same clothes just so he didn’t have to take the time to change. Cass knew because he did the same thing whenever he was on call.
If they didn’t solve the murders soon, they’d need an extra deputy. They could probably use one, anyway. Cass made a mental note to talk to Iven about hiring someone.
His immediate problem was getting Riley’s attention without alerting Iven.
Cass didn’t have to wait long before Riley seemed bored enough with whatever they were watching on television to avert his gaze to the window.
It was dark outside. Cass wondered if Riley saw him through the blackness. But Riley widened his eyes and then bit his lip.
“I’m tired. I think I’ll turn in.”
Cass felt bad for eavesdropping on their conversation.
Iven looked at the clock on the wall and drew his eyebrows together. “So early?”
“I don’t know if you know this, but following Griffin around all day is hard work.” Riley stood and hugged Iven.
Iven chuckled. “I thought that was Zinnie.”
“Her too. It must be genetic on her side.” Riley patted Iven’s shoulder.
Iven touched his hand. “I love you, kid. Never doubt it.”
“I don’t. Love was never the problem.”
“Attention was. I know.”
Riley smiled. “We’ll work through it. It’s easier now that I’m here.”
“I’m paying attention now.”
“I love you too, Dad.” Riley glanced at the window and winced, but Iven was still sitting in the chair facing the television, although Cass knew Iven well enough to know he hadn’t been focusing on anything other than Riley for a while.
He was sorry he’d taken their time away from each other. The last thing he wanted to do was make the dynamics between them even more difficult.
Cass had wanted to avoid this exact scenario, but he moved the ball in the direction it was going. He had to follow through, which meant finding Riley’s bedroom window.
He moved around the house, sniffing as he went, searching for where Riley’s scent was the strongest.
He found it toward the back of the house in the left corner.
He didn’t have to wait long for Riley to appear.
Riley opened the window and stuck his head out. He met Cass’s gaze with a smile. “This is ridiculous. You know that, right?”
“I’m aware, yes. Stand back, baby.” The endearment kept slipping out. It was as though Riley invoked it.
When Riley moved, Cass lifted himself into the window. By the time he got inside, his arms burned from holding his weight, and he discovered he needed a couple of good workouts every week. He’d been slacking lately.
“I’m definitely not as young as I used to be,” Cass panted.
Riley chuckled. “I don’t know. You looked kinda sexy, struggling to get into my bedroom.”
Cass grinned even as he growled. He kept the growl as playful as he could, mindful of the fact Riley hadn’t known about wolf shifters until meeting Cass.
Instead of being scared, Riley laughed harder. He definitely didn’t fear much.
Cass stalked toward him. He half expected Riley to back down, but he didn’t. Instead, he stood his ground as if anticipating Cass’s touch.
Cass was close enough to feel Riley’s body heat. He wanted to wrap Riley in a hug, but Cass knew he was cold from being outside for so long. He didn’t want to make Riley cold, too.
Riley’s laughter died, and he bit his bottom lip as he met Cass’s gaze. They were about the same height. Cass was only a couple of inches taller than Riley. He had a lot more muscle mass, though.
“Hi,” Cass whispered.
“Hi.” Riley didn’t lose the humor in his gaze, but his expression had softened a bit. “I feel like I’ve known you my whole life. Is that weird?”
“Not at all. I feel the same way. I think a part of me knows who you are…” Cass put a hand on Riley’s chest. “…right here. That probably sounds like a line, but I’m being sincere.”
“It doesn’t sound like a line. Well, it kinda does. But I get it.” Riley cupped Cass’s cheek. His hands warmed his freezing skin. “You were outside for a long time, weren’t you?”
“If I admit it, will you please not think of me as a stalker?”
Riley chuckled. “I can’t make promises.”
Cass wrapped his arms around Riley and pulled him closer. “Then I admit nothing.”
“If it makes you feel better, I’ve been antsy since after dinner waiting for you.” Riley rubbed his fingers over Cass’s stubble. His gaze was on Cass’s mouth. “I have a few questions.”
“Ask.”
“Can I kiss you first?”
“That’s a question?”
Riley grinned. “I guess it is. My first one.”
Cass pressed their lips together. As soon as their mouths touched, Cass felt a spark between them. That energy ignited something inside Cass. He should have ended the kiss. He knew they needed to talk. But he deepened it instead.
Riley let Cass have control. If his moan was any indication, he seemed to like giving it to Cass.
Cass held Riley in place by his nape and went in for a taste.
Riley’s hands left Cass’s face to wrap around his waist. His cock was easy to feel through his cotton pajama pants. It was unmistakable and wonderful to feel. As much as Cass wanted more, he didn’t take the kiss that far.
Instead, he got one more taste and then ended it.
Riley whimpered and buried his face in Cass’s neck. His arms tightened around Cass, and his body tensed. The latter thing put Cass on alert, but Riley’s body language suggested something wasn’t quite right.
“I’ve got you, baby.”
“I…Sorry. I don’t know why I’m like this. It’s never happened before.”
As much as Cass didn’t want to talk about Riley kissing other people, he needed to ensure Riley was okay. “Let’s talk about how you’re feeling.”
“Clingy.” Riley’s one-word reply was enough to put Cass at ease.
“That’s okay. I’m here for that.” Cass tightened his hold as well. He felt right in Cass’s arms, in a way no one had before. It was as if he were made to hold Riley whenever he needed comfort.
“I should feel scared, right?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you turn into a wolf. That should be scary, but it’s not.” Riley sighed and wiggled in his arms, as if getting closer. “I feel safe.”
“You’ll always be safe with me.”
“I forgot what it felt like.”
“You haven’t felt safe? Not even here with Iven?”
“I wouldn’t call it security. It’s survival mode. I’m learning how to live. Probably for the first time in my life.” Riley lost some of the tension. “I don’t know how to be around Dad. He’s not like mom, in a good way. But I’m waiting for him to take that first drink. Or do drugs.”
“You don’t trust him.” But Riley did trust Cass, although Cass wasn’t sure what he’d done to earn it.
“No, I guess not. I didn’t realize that’s what was lacking.” Riley met his gaze with a smile. “Thank you.”
“For what, baby?”
“For talking me through my issue with Dad. It will help a lot going forward.” Riley bit his lip, averting his gaze for a moment before meeting Cass’s gaze again. “We have to keep sneaking around, don’t we?”
“For now. I don’t want to disrupt your relationship with your dad, for one. But my pack is also a problem. My alpha’s conservative. He won’t accept a mate who isn’t a wolf shifter.” Cass wanted to shield Riley from all their problems with a nice lie but the truth was better, even if it was less comfortable for Riley.
“Oh.” Riley averted his gaze again.
Cass tilted Riley’s chin up. “I’ll work on the pack issue. You work on building a relationship with your dad. That’s how we’re going to tackle this. Okay?”
“What about us?”
“You know that little cottage behind Zinnie’s Inn?”
Riley nodded. “I think so.”
“That’s my house.” Cass held Riley’s hand, palm up, before fishing in his pocket. He placed a key in Riley’s hand. “Here’s a key if you ever need it. Use it whenever you want.”
“Is it okay if I come to see you tomorrow?”
“More than okay.” Cass couldn’t wait to see Riley for longer than a few stolen minutes. “I better go before Iven gets wind of me here.”
A door closed somewhere in the house. Probably the bathroom.
It was going to be a long, slow mating.