Protect and Serve Shifting Forces by Cassidy McKay Read Free Book Online

I guess it’s all right with me.”
    After cleaning up, we head into the nearest town for supplies. Kender’s cabin might have been ready for overnight guests, but if we’re going to be here awhile, we’ll need more food.
    “Kender, glad to see you back, man!”
    “It’s good you’ve come home.”
    “I hope we’ll be seeing you around here more often, young man.”
    So many people in the store seem to know Kender, recognizing him from when he lived here. Definitely a paranormal-friendly town. I’d heard of them, but there aren’t enough as far as I’m concerned. However, these welcomes didn’t seem to extend to Aurora. From the suspicious looks thrown my way, their welcomes don’t cover double matings, either.
    “That was uncomfortable.” Aurora’s nervous comment says it all as we load the groceries into Kender’s pickup truck. “Are they always like that to strangers?”
    “No. Not that I’ve really noticed. It’s been a long time since I was here, though. I’ve been in the military since I left home. Things have changed everywhere.”
    “Kender?” the feminine voice purrs from behind us. Her hand locks possessively on his shoulder, as if she is well used to handling him.
    “Jordan Miller? Wow, it’s been years since I’ve seen you. How have you been? How’s Mike?”
    The woman moves closer to him, definitely on the prowl. “Oh, Mike’s been gone for years, honey. He moved on to greener pastures. So have I.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that. You and Mike seemed like a good couple. Jordan Miller, this is Aurora Monroe and Varick Gerard. Jordan’s an old friend of mine from school.” Kender looks a little nervous.
    The woman glances at us, dismissing Aurora out of hand with a condescending whisper. “A human. How sweet.” Her smile of invitation hones in on the gryphon. “Just an old friend , huh? Oh, Kender. We were so much more than friends.”
    Aurora steps in between them, pushing Kender into the cab of the truck. “How nice for you. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re on our way home for a nice, hot, messy human/shifter sandwich. Which doesn’t include old friends. I’m sorry, but you’re not invited, Ms. Miller. You’ll just have to find your own greener pastures. These two are mine.”
    With the slamming of doors and the rev of an engine, we’re off to the cabin. Neither of us are going to turn down an invitation like that -- even if it did come out of a jealous show-down. That Jordan woman didn’t look too happy to be left in the dust, but really, she was asking for it.
    Kender and I grin over Aurora’s head. Sandwiched between us sounds like both a meal and dessert at the same time. Add in two horny shifters who’ve been denied all day, mix in a little hot-tempered, jealous woman with something to prove, and I, for one, can’t wait to get home.
    “I’m sorry, Kender. I hope I didn’t offend you.” She still sounds more pissed than contrite, but keeps her head lowered, looking at the floor of the truck. Her hands fist in the new skirt she just bought in town, threatening the swirly fabric.
    “Her family and mine have been friends since we were kids. I think they -- and she -- always expected us to end up together. But Jordan’s always been a troublemaker. We dated a few times, but she wasn’t what I was looking for. When she came on to me with both barrels in the parking lot like that, I didn’t quite know how to let her down easy.”
    “That kind of woman you don’t let down easy, Kender. You cut off their head with a shovel and bury it before it bites you.”
    Yeah, she’s not pissed. Not at all.
    “I think I like this jealous side of you, sweetheart.” Kender’s not fooled, either.
    “I’m not jealous. Whatever gave you that idea?”

Kender’s Blog (8)
     
    “What about the schedule, Aurora?” We barely make it in the door before she’s tearing my clothes off. Varick’s and hers follow soon after. Flying buttons and the sound of tearing fabric make me