“Uncle Lee, Ryder said you can get me a milk and a cookie.” Harper heard her say and she smiled at Ryder who just shook his head.
“Milk only.” He called down the stairs. “This way.” He took her elbow and led her around a corner and through another door that opened to stairs.” She climbed them as well until she reached the top where another door stood open and turned a corner onto a landing.
The attic was huge. It stretched the reach of the top of the house when she looked to her left and to her right. Fresh insulation was tucked into the space between the roof braces, but it wasn’t finished. She felt cool air coming from behind her where there wasn’t insulation yet. Someone had swept insulation scraps, dirt, and dust into a pile in the corner at the end of the room. A mattress was on the floor under a window but had fresh sheets and pillows with a handmade quilt covering the bottom half. It looked just made. “We plan on installing hardwood floors up here. They’ll be honey oak to pick up the light. See,” he pointed, “they’ve started down there. I’m going to hang drywall and make that whole wall over there into a closet.” Harper nodded. “We’re working out how to get a bathroom up here.” She walked over and looked out the window. The barn was out there to the left and just beyond it trees. The moon was bright and shining down on the collapsing barn roof. “What do you think?” He asked from right behind her now.
“I think you’re right about the barn.” She turned and was caged by him again. He seemed to like doing that to her. Her hip leaned against the window frame and she felt the draft against her skin. His huge arms were braced against the window frame.
“Let me help you out of those shoes.” He bent and lifted her foot then slid off one shoe then repeated it for the other shoe. “You’re just a little bit of a thing huh? I’ll get you something to sleep in.” Harper swallowed hard. Her heart pounded with him so near. He could’ve done anything to her right then but he only made her more comfortable.
He crossed the room and opened a box against the wall then pulled out a tee shirt. It was black and plain but long. He handed it to her and helped her out of her jacket. “Maybe you should just sleep in this.” He said looking at the lacy top that Sidney put her in earlier. He let his thumbs trail down her bare arms as he slowly pulled the jacket off.
“Do you need privacy to change?” His voice soothed over her nerves making her heart jump about but calming her all at the same time. She made a circle with her finger so he would turn around. He stalked back to the box and dug through it while she turned around and pulled off the lace tee shirt and her new lacy push up bra. She was going to murder Sidney. If she’d worn her usual attire, she could’ve just flopped across the mattress. The tee shirt he’d given her dropped to her mid thigh and it smelled like him. A little thrill raced through her. She liked that scent. It made her feel safe. She reached under the shirt and unzipped the skirt then tugged it down her hips. When she stepped out of it, she started to fall sideways but he was there and caught her easily.
“Thanks.” Harper said.
“Anytime darling.” She liked how he said that. He stretched darling out like smooth caramel and left the ‘g’ off. When she turned to look at him, he was only in his jeans. They hung off his hips seductively and she wondered if he’d undone the button on purpose to be even sexier than he was dressed.
His torso was cut, roped with power. Muscles notched in his abdomen promised grace and strength while making muscles of her own clench greedily low in her belly. His feet were bare, tan, and perfect. She’d never paid much attention to feet before but his were nice. He shifted then into a magnificent black wolf. It was big with thick hair and sniffed her hand then under her shirt’s hem.
“Hey, none of that.” He nudged her toward the bed and she went. He was big. Standing on all fours his nose was above her navel. If he stood up on his hind legs, she was sure that he would look down at her. Harper climbed into the makeshift bed and got under the sheet then pulled the quilt up to her chin. Ryder went to the corner and curled up after sniffing the floor. He groaned lightly and put his head down but he was watching her.
Harper closed her eyes and tried to sleep. She could feel the cool damp air coming from behind her and pulled the quilt higher up on her shoulder. It was chilly up here. She considered shifting and going to curl up with him to keep warm. Harper tossed but couldn’t get comfortable because she couldn’t get warm enough. She should’ve insisted on going home. It was very late and she had to go to work tomorrow. She had a shift at the store and another tomorrow night at the gas station, so sleep was not optional it was a necessity. She turned over again and found herself staring into the wolf’s eyes. He was sitting there beside her bed watching her. He shifted back into his human form.