Chapter Seventeen
Catherine glanced over at Mary who was giving her a knowing smirk. “You? You were rogue?”
She nodded. “I was part of a small pack of lycans out in the Pacific Northwest. The Tredeger pack absorbed ours by killing off the leading males.” A look of sadness passed over her eyes so quickly Catherine may have missed it. “I had to make the decision to stay and pledge myself to a man who’d ordered the killing of my family, or to leave my home.”
“People think it’s an easy decision,” Catherine whispered, so glad to be able to confide in someone who understood. “That to be a rogue you were cast out against your will.”
Mary tilted her head and nodded. She placed a wet hand on Catherine’s forearm. “Sometimes we become rogues to save ourselves from a worse fate.” Moisture brimmed in Catherine’s eyes as she nodded quickly. Mary wiped them away and waved her hand over her own eyes. “But we survive. We find people who can protect us. Who will protect us. If there is one thing I know of my boy, Catherine, it’s that he will never let you go. He will never let anything harm you again.”
Catherine let out a shaky breath and nodded again, unable to do anything else. She hoped Mary was right. She hoped when he knew the truth, he would hold her close and not shove her away.
“Anyway,” Mary said, getting back to work. “Graham says you are quite the chef. I hope you know that you’ll be expected here every other Friday from here
on out?”
Catherine laughed slightly. “Of course. Maybe we can have it at our house every once in a while?”
Mary paused what she was doing to send her a brilliant smile. “I’d like that very much. What would you say to that, Graham?”
Catherine turned sharply, following Mary’s line of sight to spy Graham leaning against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets. His eyes held a certain soft endearment as he gazed in at her and his mother washing dishes side by side.
“Fine with me,” he finally answered.
“I gave away your position,” Mary said with a laugh, eyeing Catherine.
“Oh, is this your job?” Catherine asked. Graham gifted her a smile and shoved off the door.
“Usually.”
“Always,” Heather said, rolling her eyes as she walked past her brother toward the bathroom.
He shrugged. “Okay, always.” She smiled at the shy gesture and went to hand him the sponge. He eyed it doubtfully. “Mom, why don’t you go hang out with your daughters. I’ll take over your spot so you can have a night off for once.”
“Mary wiped her hands and took her apron off. “My son, the hero.” She gave Graham a kiss on the cheek before grabbing a glass of wine and joining her daughters on the porch.
Graham took up the spot to her right and started drying the dishes and putting them away. They sat in a comfortable silence as they each did their task. Every few minutes their skin would brush against each other. A finger would slip out and glide against a hand. Someone’s breath would tickle the other’s arm. The air was charged and Catherine could not escape until the dishes were done. Nearly fifteen minutes later she was finally able to unplug the stopper and rinse out the sink. Graham stacked the last of the plates together. As she bent over to check the drain, she felt him brush against her ass.
He reached above her to put the plates away. When he lowered himself down, she felt every inch of his hard body slide over hers. His large hands ran down her sides and gripped her waist. She gulped, realizing his hands were nearly large enough to wrap all the way around and touch fingertips. Her knuckles turned white against the edge of the sink while he used one hand to brush some hair over her shoulder so that he could kiss the bare skin along the top of her spine.
Graham turned her around without allowing her to gain any space between them. She felt his pulsing erection against her stomach. Her eyes traveled from that appendage to his face. His fingers flexed against her waist. His eyes were swirled with black and his jaw ticked as they inspected her lips. She parted them and his eyes went pitch black.
“Kiss me,” she ordered.
His eyes shot up to hers and in the next moment he was lifting her to the counter. She felt water seep from the edge of the sink to her jeans but she didn’t
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Chapter Seventeen
care because his mouth was much more important His lips molded to hers and she tasted the tang of tobacen. He ran bus hand through her fans and angled The head for better access to her mouth. He pushed her back slightly with the force of his kiss. She gripped his shut in Pare fiets, wishing to have more of him on her. He groaned and sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, causing her to gasp. His hand lowered to cap her ass and squeeze Goddess, the wanted his hands everywhere
And I’m the pervert.” Theo said behind them.
Graham released Catherine with a startled grunt causing her to fall back in the empty sink. He cursed and pulled her back before glaring at his friend, smiling at him from the open doorway.
“Get lost.”
Theo shrugged. “Just trying to help. The last time your mom caught me seducing her daughter over the kitchen sink she used the wooden paddle on me. I’d hate to see her brandish that against Catherine!” Theo gave a comedic shiver and walked out the back with a flourish.
Graham growled and ran his hand through his hair. His eyes were slowly returning to normal as he studied her face. He stepped between her legs again and kissed her for the span of a few heartbeats. He pulled back and placed his forehead against hers.
“He’s right. We’ll finish this at home. Get your coat.”
Catherine felt heat rise up from her chest as he helped her down from the sink. He walked out back to say goodbye to everyone and Catherine hurried to the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face and fixed her hair. She rashed out and ran right inta Leonora. The woman glared and her eyes raked over Catherine’s appearance.
“I’m sorry, I was clearly not paying attention and…”
Leonora took a threatening step toward het. She crossed hey are and red have fur puse. ‘t as smell hom all sear you,” she hissed.
Catherine’s face heated. “I’m sorry, were leaving. I’m so enharmed. I then was put gan a stafle carmend every
Leonora guffawed and lowered her voice. ‘It’s not Grifuum i smell on you, this is your other muta
