Seduced by a Shifter Read Free Page B

be Dean’s second in command, his job as town sheriff more than satisfying his beast’s dominate and protective instincts. And next week they would become brothers-in-law when Caleb married Kaylie’s sister, Tess.
    Ben tried not to think of the wedding and the fact that three of his friends had found and claimed their mates within the last year. It made his own beast antsy, and the man envious.
    “This is wonderful,” Ben murmured to Kaylie around a mouth full of meat and cheese, not only to break free from the sudden bleakness that threatened to ruin his good mood, but because the food was indeed good. The hint of spicy heat only added to the flavor.
    “Thank Vince. He made it.” Kaylie walked over and leaned against the armrest of Dean’s chair, his hand immediately reaching out to gently stroke his son’s head. “I was busy feeding Lukas.”
    Dean blinked and tore his gaze from his child. “You fed him while Vince and Mack were with you?”
    At the incredulous tone, Kaylie rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dean. I plopped out my boobs in front of everyone.”
    “Kaylie, please.” Vince winced. “You’ll get me killed, or worse, exiled from the pack.”
    Settling in for a great show, Ben watched the interplay of his pack members as he lowered himself onto the thick carpet next to Jack. He popped the last bit of food in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. These people were his friends, his family. Their dynamic didn’t shift, yet somehow remained heartfelt and lively, reinforcing Ben’s bonds to his pack and their warmth. Roaming, as some of his kind did when seeking a mate, was not in the cards for Ben. He’d miss his pack too much to be happy anywhere else.
    It wasn’t until Kaylie mentioned his name that he pulled himself from his thoughts. Her words, though, had him sputtering with disbelief.
    “Except Ben. I’ve seen him naked.”
    Now the center of attention by curious eyes, all except Dean’s, who appeared ready to slice his throat open, Ben choked. “Christ, woman. I was all of eleven, coming out of a shift. And you shouldn’t have been there anyway.”
    Jack chuckled, slapping a paternal hand on Ben’s shoulder and squeezing fondly. “I remember that. Kaylie was spending the night with my Joanie and Ben lived next door to us. When Grace Anderson called me in a panic, I hopped the fence to find the poor boy stuck in mid-shift and his father snoring away on the grass, naked as the day he was born. Once I got Ben settled and calmed down, I turn to see the two girls, eyes wide in shock, mouths open like gaping fish, as they peered through the fencing.”
    Unrepentant, Kaylie shrugged. “We were curious.”
    “Curiosity killed the cat,” Dean narrowed his eyes at Kaylie, but the gleam of heat and something more was unmistakable.
    “And satisfaction brought it back. How many times do we need to have this discussion?”
    “Until it sinks in.” Dean laid a hand on Kaylie’s thigh and she leaned down to press a lingering kiss on her husband’s forehead.
    “Now that my work of mayhem is done,” Kaylie said, “I’m going to put our son to bed and let you get on with your meeting.”
    Amid a chorus of good nights, Kaylie passed Ben and, ignoring his retaliatory gaze, whispered under her breath, “Good luck.” Now, instead of thinking how he could get his hands on some naked baby pictures of Kaylie to plaster around town, Ben instead wondered just what had transpired before his arrival.
    “As always, I thank you for coming. I do realize this meeting was on short notice and plan to be brief, as you all have other things to do.” Dean looked at each of his leaders as he spoke, shifting the group easily from playtime to business. “This meeting and subsequent result is at Zan’s request, so I will let him explain.”
    Intrigued, Ben reached for another sandwich and a soda, setting his eyes on the former secret ops shifter.
    Zan didn’t hesitate. “An acquaintance of mine has requested my help. Our