Kate stood frozen in shock.
Surely she'd heard wrong. Jeremy Danvers had not just offered to move in with her. And yet she knew her hearing was perfectly sound, so therefore, he must have. There was no way he could move into her home, however temporary.
Firstly, she rationalised, her guest bedroom was tiny. Dear God, how would she sleep knowing that he was so close? No. It was not a viable option. Secondly, being near him, when she knew that he was not romantically interested in her, would only make getting over him that much harder. Not that she could tell him that. How did she explain to Jeremy that the reason she was reluctant to allow him to stay with her, for her own added protection, was because she feared revealing the depths of her feelings?
Kate lifted her hands to massage her suddenly aching temples. When had her life become this complicated?
"Well?" Jeremy interrupted her musings.
Kate swallowed. "I couldn't ask you to do that."
"You didn't ask. I offered," he reminded her.
She bit her lip, torn. In all honesty, she didn't want to be alone, not after the day's events. The idea of another encounter with Salazar was not high on Kate's list of repeat performances, but what was the alternative? Realistically, she couldn't move to Stonehaven. With her working hours, she'd be adding at least an hour and a half's commute to an already busy day. That left only two other options: Be completely unreasonable and insist on staying on her own, or have Jeremy moved in with her. Then again, did she actually have much of a choice? She either took her chances on her own and potentially risked having a psycho try to kill her a second time, or she agreed to have the hottest man in town serve as her personal bodyguard.
If Jeremy was anyone else, someone she wasn't insanely attracted to and already half in love with, she'd have no problem with the arrangement. However, if she was looking to tip the scales in that direction completely, then acquiescing to this ridiculous idea would be the way to go.
Kate glanced at Sheriff Morgan.
The other woman shrugged. "I can't force you to do anything, Dr Shaw, but you would be far safer if you weren't alone right now. However you choose to accomplish that is your business, and BVPD will be doing its best to look out for you, but until we catch this guy, our resources are going to be spread pretty thin."
Unfortunately, she couldn't think of a better alternative. Her eyes rose to meet Jeremy's. "I accept your offer. Thank you."
He visibly relaxed, as though he'd been unsure of what she'd ultimately decide. "Good."
Just then, a car pulled up and parked at the curb. Kate recognised it as belonging to Clay. Did Jeremy call them? she wondered as Clay, Elena and Nick walked towards them. When?
"If you'll excuse me?" Sheriff Morgan said, turning away. "I want to wrap things up inside."
"Are you guys okay?" Elena asked, all concern as she glanced first at Jeremy and then at Kate.
Jeremy nodded and smiled.
"We were at the…uh… grocers when Clay got Jeremy's text," Nick explained, answering Kate's unspoken question. Grocers? She honestly didn't peg any of them as the type who trolled supermarkets.
Clay stood beside his father. "What happened here?"
"Some crazy guy was waiting for me when I got home from work. If it wasn't for Jeremy…" Kate's words trailed off as the reality of what could have happened to her set in. Suddenly, she felt really cold. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms in an attempt to get her circulation going.
"A mild case of delayed shock would be normal," Jeremy said, stepping closer to her.
Kate gave him a weak smile. "He says to the doctor."
Jeremy's lips kicked up at the ends and Kate felt her knees turn to jelly. He touched a gentle finger to her cheek. "Let's go inside and I'll see to that cut."
Nick coughed. "Now I know what a third wheel feels like," he said, his tone amused.
Immediately Jeremy's hand dropped to his side and Kate, embarrassed by what Nick was implying, fidgeted with the ends of her sweater.
"Do you need anything?" Elena asked her.
"No, I'm fine, thank you."
"Then we'll meet you back at Stonehaven?" Clay asked to his father.
"Actually, no," Jeremy replied and three pairs of curious eyes zeroed in on him. "I'll be staying here until Kate's…attacker is found."
Clay's eyes bulged. "What? Jeremy, what about-" he hesitated before finishing, "Stonehaven?"
His father looked at him pointedly. "It will still be there in a few days."
There was an unmistakable tick in Clay's jaw. He was not happy. "Can we talk about this? Alone?" he asked, nodding his head in Kate's direction.
"There's nothing to discuss. I've made my decision." Jeremy's tone brooked no opposition and Clay, looking mildly chastised, glanced away shaking his head.
"Finding this guy could take a while," Nick said, watching Kate and Jeremy closely. "Are you kids planning on being….uh…roomies indefinitely?"
Elena elbowed Nick in the ribs and he yelped, giving her an innocent look that fooled no one. "What?" he asked, rubbing his side gently.
Clay and Elena both replied simultaneously, "Shut up."
Her face aflame, Kate avoided Jeremy's stare.
"I'll need to get a few things to tide me over until morning," Jeremy said to his family. "I'll be back at Stonehaven tomorrow to pack a bag."
Their attention was diverted when Sheriff Morgan exited the house, followed by the last of her officers. "We're done here. If you have any more information that you think might be useful, please let me know," she said to Kate and Jeremy.
"Thank you, Sheriff," Kate said as they watched the policemen vacate her premises as quickly as they'd entered.
"Jeremy, I'll stay with Kate while you get some supplies," Nick offered.
Jeremy glanced at Kate. She nodded. "Alright. I won't be long," he said.
"We'll drive you," Elena volunteered, grabbing Clay's arm and steering him towards the FJ Cuiser.
With them gone, Kate led Nick back into the house. "I'd apologise for the mess, but I didn't cause it."
"No need. This is tame," he said, bending to place one of her bar stools back on its feet. "You've got nothing on any number of college sorority houses."
Sweeping her hair away from her forehead, Kate lifted it off her shoulders and secured it with a hairband into a high ponytail. For the first time since her mom died she felt a little fragile and if she didn't keep busy, she was likely to burst into tears.
"Hey, Doc," Nick said. "Sit down for a minute, will you? Today must have been rough."
Kate didn't want to think about what had happened, what else could have happened if Jeremy hadn't shown up. "I don't have time to sit. This room won't clean itself."
She bent to pick up the contents of her first aid kit when Nick grasped her arm. "Sit," he said gently, removing his denim jacket. Underneath was a deep green sweater worn with black jeans and boots.
Sensing she'd lose the fight if she chose to argue with him, Kate complied, taking a seat on the bar stool he'd recently righted. Nick reached for an unopened pack of sterile alcohol swabs. "Let's clean you up."
Kate sat dutifully as he disinfected the cut on her forehead. "I seem to be making a habit of this," she said. When Nick glanced at her questioningly, she pointed to the tiny scar at her temple, courtesy of her second wolf encounter.
He grinned. "You do know that guys dig chicks with scars, right?"
Kate laughed for the first time since she'd seen Salazar, her fear momentarily forgotten. She was glad Nick was there. "I thought it was the other way around."
"It is, but I happen to think what's good for women, should be good for men." He grabbed a pack of band-aids and removed one.
"How generous of you," she said, mockingly.
"I would offer to prove to you just how serious I am," Nick said, wagging his eyebrows suggestively, "but I get the impression that you're into older guys. Or rather, one in particular."
Kate's heart hopped into her throat. "Nick, about that-"
He smoothed the band-aid over her cut. "You don't owe me any explanations, Doc."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "You wouldn't have mentioned it if you didn't expect one."
Nick smirked. "Intuitive as well as smart and beautiful. Damn. Jeremy's one lucky guy."
"Shut-up," Kate said, part amused, part embarrassed.
"You have been spending too much time around the Danvers' clan."
"Are you ever serious?" she asked, exasperated.
Nick stepped back and sat down on the stool beside her. "Do you want me to be?"
Kate wrung her hands nervously. "Look, what happened between Jeremy and I was a once off thing and I think you should forget about it."
Nick eyed her knowingly. "Have you forgotten about it?"
The rush of colour to her cheeks gave her away.
"I thought as much."
"I'm serious," Kate continued, undeterred. "He doesn't see me in that way."
Nick rolled his eyes at her. "Kate, I'm a guy so I can tell you this. Men do not kiss women they're not interested in, the way Jeremy was kissing you."
Kate frowned at him. "But he said-"
Nick made a dismissive sound. "Forget what he said." He leaned his elbows against the counter. "I'm going to tell you something I probably shouldn't, but because I know you care about Jeremy, I'm going to go out on a limb and trust you with it." He looked her straight in the eye. "I've known Jeremy all my life and I've never met anyone more loyal, more devoted to his family or more self-sacrificing."
"Self-sacrificing?" she asked. "I don't understand."
Nick shook his head. "You don't have to. What I'm trying to say is that he'll push you away because he believes it's the best thing for you. Jeremy is like that. He means well, but he doesn't always know what's best for everyone. Least of all himself. Just…don't give up on him."
Kate sat back. "I'm not in the habit of throwing myself at men who've already rejected me."
"Now there's an idea…" he said, laughing when Kate slapped his arm playfully. "Okay, okay. In all seriousness though, hang in there."
Kate crossed her arms over her chest. "What makes you think I care either way?"
Nick smiled. "Because from where I was standing, you were definitely kissing Jeremy back."
Kate inclined her head, acknowledging his words. "So, what makes you qualified to offer advice on love and relationships?"
He shrugged, looking a little sheepish. "I guess because I'd give anything to have a woman look at me the way you look at Jeremy."
"Oh, Nick," Kate sighed, her heart aching at his forlorn expression. "You'll find someone," she said, placing a hand comfortingly on his.
Clearly embarrassed at having revealed something so personal, he cleared his throat, his face splitting into a mischievous grin. "That friend of yours, Sara, is it?" Kate nodded. "She single?"
Kate laughed. It was a pity that she felt nothing but a sibling-like affection for him. Nick was a pretty wonderful guy and he deserved someone special.
Her front door opened and they looked up in time to see Jeremy enter, a couple of bags slung across his arm. "Clay and Elena's waiting outside," he said to Nick.
The younger man stood, shrugging back into his jacket.
"Thank you," Kate said sincerely.
He smiled warmly at her before winking devilishly. "Enjoy the sleepover."
Closing the door behind him, Nick left Kate and Jeremy alone.
Jeremy stared at the woman sitting at the kitchen counter feeling about as awkward as he had the first time he'd ever kissed a girl. His plan to stay with her had seemed like a good one when he suggested it, but now, in the confines of her home with no one else there to act as a distraction, he wasn't so sure he'd made the right decision. Perhaps he should have asked Elena to stay. That might have made Kate more comfortable. Then again, he doubted he would have been able to entrust her safety to anyone but himself.
Hands off, he reminded himself as he watched her move to stand.
"I see you cleaned that wound," he said, breaking the silence.
Kate self-consciously touched a hand to the clear band-aid on her forehead. "Nick insisted."
Jeremy moved closer to her. "How are you feeling?" He realised that the shock of all that had happened was bound to set it and when it did, he didn't want her to alone. Already, she seemed a little on edge.
"I'm not sure, exactly," she replied honestly. "It's not every day that you realise someone's been stalking you."
"He will be caught, Kate," Jeremy assured her.
"I hope so," she said, giving him a small smile.
Their eyes met and held and Jeremy had to fight his desire to reach for her. He was pretty sure Kate wasn't aware of how she looked at him, how her eyed glowed with yearning, their mossy depths silently urging him to reach out. She was so beautiful, so vital, a balm to his aging, battered soul. Everything about her was something he'd never known he'd wanted, had never given any thought to, until he'd met her. And there she was, within his grasp, and Jeremy wanted so badly to take what he was certain she was offering. But he couldn't.
This had not been a good idea.
Kate looked away first, disappointed. "Let me show you to your room."
She headed down a narrow hall and passed an open door to the left. Peeking inside, Jeremy realised it was her bedroom. He briefly glimpsed cream carpeted floors, light wood furniture and a high, comfortable looking bed. Continuing on, they passed another door which he assumed was the bathroom before he followed Kate into a second bedroom, much smaller than the first and clearly a work in progress. The room was empty, apart from an unmade double bed, a small chest of drawers and a pile of unpacked boxes.
"I'm sorry," Kate said, flushing slightly as she showed him inside. "Clearly I wasn't expecting any guests."
Jeremy smiled, hoping to put her at ease. "This is perfectly fine."
Kate walked towards to the window, separating the beige curtains so she could open the panes to let some fresh air in. Next, she started moving boxes around. "Let me just remove these…"
Jeremy placed his purchases on the bed and grasped her elbow. "Kate, please. Don't trouble yourself."
"But this room-"
"Is fine."
Reluctantly, she nodded. "I'll get some fresh linens."
With his help they quickly covered the bed before heading back into the living room cum kitchen. There was a bit of mess since a few items had fallen over during the scuffle with Salazar.
Setting to work, Jeremy began cleaning up. Kate walked into the kitchen and started opening doors. "What would you like for dinner?" she asked.
"Oh, I ordered a takeaway from the diner on Main. They'll deliver soon," Jeremy replied, grabbing the black bag Kate had placed on the counter and gathering the bloody bandages Salazar has used to clean his wounds.
"Thank you, but you didn't have to do that. I don't mind cooking. In fact, I quite enjoy it."
Jeremy knotted the black bag and placed it against the wall. "I didn't want to put you to any trouble. This arrangement was my idea, after all," he said.
"That was very considerate of you."
The doorbell rang and Jeremy reached for the doorknob. "That's dinner."
Tipping the delivery guy, he carried two massive bags to the counter while Kate reached for plates and cutlery. "Was it your intention to purchase food for the entire week?" she gasped.
Jeremy laughed. "I'm hungry."
Removing the barbecued lamb cutlets and ribs, he placed them on the counter top. He followed on with potato salad, green salad and garlic bread. Everything looked and smelled delicious. Grabbing plates, they dug in.
"You know," Kate said, swallowing a mouthful of potato, "you eat enough for four people. Why are you not three times heavier?"
"Fast metabolism." It's not like he could tell her that he transformed into a wolf daily and ran for miles on end.
She eyed him sceptically. "And? Hours of exercise, surely?" She shook her head. "Anyway, that's so unfair. I eat one too many scoops of ice-cream and I swear I can see my behind expanding."
"It looks pretty perfect from here," Jeremy murmured without thinking, his gaze drawn to that particular portion of her anatomy, at present displayed to its fullest potential in tight blue jeans, as she leaned across the counter to snag another piece of bread.
Heat creeping up the sides of her neck, Kate sat back down, her eyes focused on the contents of her plate.
Shit. He shouldn't have said that.
His appetite for food gone, Jeremy stood and started clearing things away. When Kate finished, she joined him, stacking the dishwasher before placing the remainder of the food in the refrigerator.
It had just gone dark, a definite nip present in the air. With the rain coming down in torrents, it was bound to get colder. Glancing at the empty fireplace, Jeremy asked, "Do you have some dry wood?"
"Yes. Check inside the garage."
Moments later, his arms laden with wood, Jeremy set about making a fire while Kate brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Task done, she handed him a tall mug before sinking down onto the couch beside him with a sigh. Removing her spectacles, she placed them on the coffee table. Minutes passed as they sipped their beverages in silence, listening to the snap and crackle of the wood as it burned.
Try as he might, Jeremy couldn't control his awareness of her. It was like his brain was working against him, her tantalising scent filling his nostrils, following him around, taunting him. The hardest part was keeping his hands to himself. She was so close, mere inches from him. He wouldn't even have strain to touch her, to fill his hands with her lustrous hair, to pull her against him, to-
"Jeremy?" Kate was staring at him, a frown on her face. "Are you alright?"
Groaning inwardly, he focused on her face. "Fine."
She took a slow sip of coffee. "I wanted to ask you something." Glancing into the flames, she continued, "What did Salazar mean when he said that Clay was a killer?"
Jeremy's stomach dropped. "You can't ask me to interpret the words of a mad man."
She turned her gaze towards him, her mug cradled in her palms. "That's just the thing. Yes, there were moments when I thought he was completely crazy, but there were other times when he seemed…" She struggled to find the right word. "Earnest."
"What do you mean?" These were not waters he was comfortable treading.
Kate shrugged. "He acted as though he knew you, knew Clay, your family."
"I can assure you, until today, I have never met that man in my life." At least that wasn't a lie.
Her eyes searched his before glancing away. "I know, I'm sorry," she said, her voice dipping lower. "You must think I'm being silly." She reached forward and placed her mug on the coffee table. Jeremy followed suit.
Placing a comforting hand on top of hers, he said, "You've been through a rough couple of weeks and today was the worst of it." His eyes held hers. "I promise you that Salazar will never hurt you again."
Unexpectedly her eyes misted with moisture, "When you say it like that, I can almost believe it." Her fingers curled around his. "There was a moment today, before you arrived, when I genuinely thought I was going to die." A lone tear tracked down her cheek and Kate hastily brushed it away. "It made me realise that I wasn't ready, that there was still so much I wanted to do, things that needed to be said." Her voice cracked.
"Hey," Jeremy said, giving in to the impulse and pulling her into his arms as another tear fell into her lap. "You're safe. I've got you."
Kate came willingly, a soft sob escaping her throat as her arms wrapped around him, her face settling into the crook of his neck. From the moment she'd gone silent outside, he'd known this moment was coming. There was no way she could have kept the emotions of the day bottled up indefinitely. Letting them out would help her face her fears and enable her to move on.
Jeremy cradled her against him as she cried, her sobs wrenching at his heart. All the while he kept holding her, kissing the top of her head, running a soothing hand down her back. He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, but eventually her sobs subsided to gentle shudders before fading away completely.
She sniffed. "I'm sorry," she mumbled against his chest, pulling back. Her eyes were red and blotchy, her cheeks flushed. "I was not expecting to do that."
Jeremy pushed the wet strands of hair clinging to her cheeks away from her face. "You don't need to apologise."
"Whoever said a good cry worked wonders, was absolutely right," she said with a self-conscious smile.
"It's been a tough day."
She nodded, looking up at him. Her hands were still resting on his chest, fiddling with the button on his waistcoat. She was vulnerable and afraid, looking for comfort and Jeremy knew he needed to stand up and walk away. But when he gazed into those beguiling green eyes, drops of moisture still clinging to the tips of her long lashes, Jeremy knew that at that moment, a band of wild horses could not have pulled him away.
Within seconds, Kate was back in his arms, her soft lips breathing life into him. He couldn't be sure exactly how they achieved it, but when he next came up for air, he had Kate trapped beneath him on the couch, their hands and mouths everywhere. With every minute that passed, their kisses became more feverish and frenzied, neither one of them getting quite enough of the other. Of their own accord, Jeremy's hands reached for the bottom of Kate's sweater, their mouths separating as he lifted it up and over her head until her breasts, barely covered in a lacy white bra, were revealed to him. Unable to contain his need, his hands reached for them even as his mouth settled back on hers.
Kate was frantically unbuttoning his waistcoat, pushing it off his shoulders until it fell to the ground. Her mouth clung to his as her tongue stroked his with purpose, her fingers going to work on his shirt. Jeremy knew he had to stop this madness, knew that he was taking advantage of her vulnerability, but God help him, she felt so good in his arms. He wanted nothing more than to finish what they'd started, to sink into the welcoming warmth of her body and forget about all the reasons this was a bad idea, none of which he could presently recall.
Just a moment more, he promised himself, his thumbs stroking over the swells of her nipples, feeling them harden beneath his touch. Kate moaned, arching into his palms. "Jeremy," she breathed, and he was lost.
His shirt loose, he felt her hands on the bare skin of his chest, her fingernails gently raking across his flesh. How many times had he dreamt of this moment, wondered what it would feel like to have her touch him, running her hands across his sensitised skin? Her lips broke from his to trail down his neck, nipping and sucking as she went along, her breathing as ragged as his. Her hands kept moving lower, down towards his abdomen, the muscles contracting at her touch. Desire, hot and heavy, spiked through his veins, clouding his ability to form rational thought. All he was capable of was feeling.
Their lips sought and found one another again, their tongues twirling together in a sensual dance. Through the haze of pleasure Jeremy felt Kate's fingers skim around to his back before trailing forward once more towards his flank.
His brain finally catching up with his hormones, he realised too late what was about to happen. Even as he reached for her hands, Kate tore her mouth from his, pushing him away. He tried to evade her, to hide the site of his wound, but when he heard her gasp, he knew it was too late.
Dammit! Not having foreseen the intimacy of their current situation, he hadn't bothered to put any bandages over his wound. Since the bite was completely healed, it wasn't necessary.
On his feet, he looked at her. She was staring at the area where the bite had been, eyes wide with disbelief. Grabbing her sweater from the floor, she held it against her, covering her partial nudity.
"Jeremy, where are your stitches?" she asked in a shaky voice.
"Kate," he replied, panicked, unsure of how he was going to explain the absence of any injury.
Her voice rose as she, too, stood. "Where are your stitches?" she asked again, moving around him slowly.
Jeremy closed his eyes, his worst nightmare come to fruition. "I can explain," he said, though he was at a loss to how.
"You'd better," she said, raising her eyes to his. "I saw it." She pointed a shaky finger at his smooth flank. "I saw the bite. I treated it. How can it be gone?"
"I told you," he cajoled. "I heal fast."
Kate's look turned incredulous, then furious. "Do not patronise me!" she said, her voice a little shrill. He could see her mind working, trying to piece together a scenario she couldn't possibly comprehend. "Unless you're about to tell me that X-Men actually exist, you're going to have to do a lot better than that."
He reached for her, but she shrank away from his touch and Jeremy's gut twisted. "Please, just forget what you think you saw."
"Think I saw?" she cried, pushing her hair out of her eyes. "Are you kidding me? I know what I saw! I was there, remember? I was the one who patched you up – three days ago! How is it possible that your body shows no evidence of it?"
Jeremy felt desperate. "Kate, I can't keep you safe if you keep asking me difficult questions."
"Stop, Jeremy! Stop lying to me! I want the truth!" Her voice cracked, her distress piercing through him like an arrow to the heart.
He turned his back to her. Her lips were swollen, her face flushed, her hair a mess. She was perfect. How was he going to explain this away?
Behind him, she heard her step closer. "Please," she whispered, so close he could feel the warmth of her breath on his back.
Slowly, Jeremy turned to face her. She looked dazed, angry, confused…hurt. "Kate-"
"Please Jeremy," she begged. "Don't lie to me."
He swallowed past the lump in his throat. For a moment he'd wanted to believe that he could be normal, that he could have a normal relationship. Fool! he cursed inwardly. He should have known better. He'd caused this mess and now there was no escape.
Taking a deep breath Jeremy met Kate's expectant gaze squarely. "I'm a werewolf."