Changing Hearts Read Online Free PDF

wolf outside her window.
    Slade gave another wolfish grin at the image her response had inspired, then moved quietly away from the window. He’d like to hear that from her in his bed. He moved off the porch and into the woods as the old woman came outside. She glanced around as if searching for him, then shook her head. She went back inside, only to reemerge with a huge satchel over her arm.
    “I’ll be gone most of the day. You be careful now, cher , don’t be letting any strangers into the cabin with you.” Joie appeared in the doorway to give the old woman a hug and watch as she got into an ancient sedan. The powerful hum of the engine let Slade know that even though the car was old, it was well taken care of. He’d spent enough time working as a mechanic to recognize the sound of a well-tuned engine.
    Kay backed into the patch of dirt beside the carport, then started down the dirt road that led away from the cabin. Slade watched until her car went out of sight around a bend, then he started slowly toward the cabin.
    Joie stepped out onto the porch and they both stopped. She smiled, somewhat tentatively, then set a plate down on the porch. She gave him another look, then went back inside the cabin, pulling the screen door closed behind her.
    Slade sniffed several times, then moved closer to the porch. A plate with scrambled eggs, sausage and biscuits waited for him. He didn’t waste any time in scarfing the food down, since he didn’t know where his next meal would come from or when. Joie stood in the doorway, he felt her more than saw her and he glanced up, licking his muzzle.
    She smiled and turned back to the kitchen, only to reappear shortly with another plateful of food. She opened the door and slid the plate out toward him. Slade cleaned it in record time, then sat on his haunches to wait for her.
    This time when she appeared in the doorway, he turned his head and pulled at the bandage around his chest. Joie gave a soft sound of distress and came out onto the porch.
    “Don’t!” She reached for him and Slade’s head turned toward her. She gasped softly and stopped in her tracks. When he didn’t make another move toward her, she reached out again. “Don’t pull on the bandages.”
    Slade ignored her words and continued to pull at the cloth wrapped around his middle. Joie reached out to touch him and they both shuddered. Her hand felt soft and cool. Her fingers sank into his coat until she touched flesh. Slade suppressed another shiver even as he reveled in the feel of her hand on his body.
    He’d like her to trail that cool hand right down his chest until she cupped him. He’d shift with her holding on to him. Wouldn’t that surprise her? In his human form, he knew he’d get hard from nothing more than that, just the touch of her cool hand cupping his balls.
    “Please, leave them. You need the support now. I promise I’ll take the bandage off in a day or two.”
    A day or two? Sorry, sweetheart, I can’t stick around that long. He’d need to be human again soon for his healing to be more effective. Slade got his front teeth into the bandage and pulled. He heard a satisfying rip and pulled harder. Joie didn’t try to stop him again. She just made soft comforting sounds as he ripped the bandage completely off his chest.
    Slade ran his tongue against his teeth to remove the last strands of thread from the ripped bandage, then stared at her. He made a sound low in his throat, stepped toward her and licked her outstretched hand.
    As she stared at him in surprise, he moved off the porch and into the woods. When he knew he was out of her sight, Slade took a deep breath and changed back to human form. Sure enough, the stitches she’d put in his side ripped and he felt the blood start to flow. He yanked the bandage off his hand and pressed it against his side to stop the bleeding. One more complete change and he’d be better.
    A look around assured him that no one lurked in the area. He changed into a