Free Stretching the Rules by BA Tortuga Page B

uh, stupid thing I said. If you need me, just call. I’m off to take some stew to Mrs. Simpson. Her gout is acting up.”
    “Oh, tell her to put an ice pack on it. That’ll help.” Hank knew the weirdest things.
    “I’ll do that.” Marnie gave them a warm and, Liv thought, genuine smile. “Don’t be strangers!”
    Then she as off as quickly as she’d come, a whirlwind in cut offs and a flannel shirt.
    “Okay, so…” Hank murmured. “Was that the weirdest thing ever or what?”
    “I know! They were so nice.” She was expecting cold, growly. Terribly suspicious at the very least. Stand-offish.
    “The sniffing thing was… odd.” Hank chuckled. “Maybe he was smelling Jonah on me.”
    “Maybe he was smelling me on you.” She flicked one nipple.
    Hank grunted, eyes going wide. “Maybe. It would have been way ruder to sniff you.”
    “That wasn’t going to happen. It won’t happen again with you.”
    “No?” Hank left the kitchen and peered out the front door. “He’s still out there.”
    “Should we feed him?”
    Hank shook his head. “Jonah wouldn’t want it.”
    “Mmm. I guess so. I mean, not without him saying it was okay.” Territory was an odd thing. Liv wasn’t really jealous of her land since big cats had huge ranges. Her men, now? That she was crazy over. “I need to feed you, though. Peanut butter?”
    “Please? God, yes. Please.”
    “The stew can wait for supper.” Liv led the way back to the kitchen to make peanut butter sandwiches.
    Looked like they were already getting used to the new normal.
     
    ****
     
    Jonah grinned at James, who lay on his porch looking so sleepy he could barely keep his ears up. “Thanks, buddy. I know it was supposed to be your day off.”
    James wagged. They fed me. Good people.
    James rose and stretched his furry wolf body, then reached over and grabbed Jonah’s hand with his teeth before trotting off toward home.
    He smelled something earthy and beefy inside, stew maybe, Yum. Jonah headed inside, searching for Liv and Hank.
    Hank was curled on the sofa, buried beneath blankets and Liv was doing yoga in front of the fireplace.
    God. God, his family was home.
    An enormous smile threatened to split his face in two. He ever so casually wandered into the front room and plopped down on the couch next to Hank’s feet. “Hey.”
    Liv arched up into cobra pose, smiling at him, and Hank turned, head landing in his lap.
    He stroked that golden hair, his long day falling away now that he was back with his lovers. “Smells like stew.”
    “A lady brought it. She was sweet.” Hank was still mostly asleep, nuzzling his leg, humming for him.
    “Marnie,” Liv said. “She brought us groceries.”
    “Oh, bless her. I haven’t had time to get into town.”
    Hank chuckled. “She brought ice cream.”
    “Oh…” He hoped she got Rocky Road.
    “You can have it after stew.” Liv’s ass looked amazing in a downward dog. Not only did she have Yoga Journal perfect form, but her breasts and ass were so round, so womanly, and the temptation to push behind her, bury his nose in her skin, was huge.
    Hank laughed again, a slow, lazy sound. “Naughty thoughts, Jonah.”
    He reached down, stroked Hank’s shoulder idly. “Moi?”
    “You.” Liv flowed down into up dog. “Are a perv.”
    “The perviest,” Hank agreed.
    “Mmm. I feel pretty lazy and hungry right now.”
    “I’ll toast some bread, huh? To go with the stew?”
    “Nah, you stay put, baby boy. I’ll get it.” Jonah knew Marnie well enough to know she’d sent a loaf or two of homemade bread. It would take no effort to cut off a chunk or two.
    “You sure? I can help out.” Hank said.
    “Only if you want to, boy. I know you’re still hurting some.”
    Hank pushed himself up, kissed him, sweet and slow enough that his eyes crossed. Jonah took the kiss over in an instant, his hand behind Hank’s head, pressing his tongue in deep to taste.
    His boy. God. His boy was here.
    Jonah glanced at Liv