Charmed by the Werewolf (11 page)

Sophia took pity on him and finished his search for words. “Chummy?
”

“Yes, I suppose that could be one way to describe their relationship.
”

“I completely understand where you’re coming from. As much as I
’d like to believe it when Xavier says they’re just friends, I somehow doubt it.” She drifted over to a bookshelf and ran a fingertip along the spines of the books.

“It’s annoying, to say the least.
” A faint trace of sarcasm coated Edwin’s laugh, making her smile.

“You agree, don’t you?
” Xavier’s fingers curled into fists at his side then relaxed in a never-ending circuit. Sophia narrowed her eyes. This would end tonight, even if she had to drag Hannah to the portal herself.

“Yes, very annoying. When my wife met
him, he had a rather immediate and strong reaction toward her. He and I even came to fisticuffs about it.” He glanced at the two of them then back to Sophia. “Xavier finally took the hint, but then in exchange for his promise to help us defeat a demon lord, Hannah told him she would find him a girlfriend.”

“I see. So, Hannah had a physic vision and told Xavier about me. He came running. That’s why he’s been staking out my apartment.
” When she next peeked at the werewolf, surprise skittered through her when he caught her gaze. Deliberately, she moved closer to Edwin, even dared to lay a hand on his arm then smiled at Xavier in challenge. She lifted an eyebrow when he stiffened. His low growl floated in the air across the room.
Let him get angry.

“I am not saying you are Xavier’s mate, but Hannah is usually correct with her visions. Only you can decide your ultimate future. What I
am
asking you to do is keep Xavier occupied, away from my wife, so she will grow bored and focus her attention elsewhere.”

“And preferably back to you.
” Sophia gave him an appreciative glance. He was a sexy man, in a clichéd tall and dark sort of way. “Why don’t you tell Hannah you’re not pleased with her behavior and you feel neglected? I mean, you’ve only been married a few months. That’s hardly enough time to get to know each other. Once those kids are born there’ll be even less.”

A black eyebrow lifted accompanied by a dimple in his left cheek. “Hannah is a very strong-willed creature.
”

She snorted and poked Edwin in the chest with a fingertip, taken off guard by the wall of muscle beneath the silk shirt. “What sort of former vampire are you if you don’t order her around from time to time? Do you want those kids to see their father as a passive-aggressive man?
” Sophia risked a glance at Xavier. A shiver skittered down her spine from his glare. “Listen, I’m not going to pussy foot around the issue. Xavier interests me, and while I’m not all the way convinced he and I are fully compatible, it’s nice to know he’s there. My biggest obstacle now is your wife. You need to man up and remove her before I do.”

“Point taken.
” Edwin’s lips twitched with the beginnings of a smile. “I will admit I was an arrogant man when I first met her. Since then we have treated each other as equals.”

“Really, and do you feel like her equal when she spends so much time with Xavier, your former rival?
” She nodded toward the werewolf, pleased to see his attention was fully on her now. “How do you feel when she rushes across the room to greet him with a kiss on the cheek and whispered confidences?” Although she spoke to Edwin, Sophia kept her gaze on Xavier. His rage radiated across the room to her.
Serves him right
. “Women don’t want polite and passive men all the time.” With a start, she realized she firmly believed what she spoke. She wanted to see Xavier in the throes of jealousy, she wanted his confirmation that she was his only one, and above all, she wanted the werewolf to boot her rival.

Edwin nodded. “You are correct in your assessment. My wife has meddled in your affairs enough. I am sorry for the inconvenience.
” His lips formed a thin line as he, too, stared in Xavier’s direction. “I will rectify this situation immediately.”

“Thank you.
” She grinned at the cold anger clouding Xavier’s face, and just for the hell of it, she stood on tiptoe and kissed the former vampire’s cheek. If that didn’t bring the werewolf running, nothing would.

“I believe you will find Renn at the Lake Windsor Golf Course. She is the Activities Director and can direct you further.
”

“Can I ask you a question?
” Guilt crept up her spine with the determination of a drill sergeant. “Do you think Xavier is happy with his life as it stands now?”

“How do you mean?
”

Sophia sighed then chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “Do you truly believe being a werewolf doesn’t bother him?
” In her own life, she knew being commanded by events not of her own making drove her nuts. “If he doesn’t lift the curse, will he be okay with his life?”

“I do not believe the affliction is the source of his discontent.
” Edwin held up a               hand when Sophia would have asked another question. “I cannot direct your path, but I do know this. A higher being did not bring you two together just for their own amusement. There is a purpose behind every action in the Universe and it is our job to figure out what that is.” His face softened with a smile. “Stay true to yourself, and you will never have cause to doubt. Now, if you will excuse me, I believe I am going home with my wife.”

“That is the first logical statement I’ve heard in the last forty-eight hours.
”

Interest flooded his face and set his dark eyes dancing. “Ah, you are a student of
Spock from the starship
Enterprise
? I find his approach to life to be quite sound.”

“Uh, sure. He’s great.
” Somehow, Sophia’s faith in the paranormal world plummeted if the former vamp was a Trekkie. “Good luck.”

*****

Xavier kept his gaze solely on Edwin and Sophia. Throughout their whole conversation, she’d blatantly teased him, provoked his ire until his skin prickled with the need to shift and show her exactly why he was in charge. He would drag her off to his bedroom if need be and spend the rest of the weekend convincing her they were meant for each other, lifting the curse be damned.

Hannah tugged on his arm. “You
aren’t paying attention to me. Is something wrong?”

“Yes, everything.
” He growled, louder than he meant. Hannah flinched. Edwin and Sophia looked his way. “She’s mine.” He bounded across the carpet, yanked Sophia away from the former vampire. “What the hell do you think you’re playing at?”

“Leighton, that is no way to treat your female.
” Edwin took a step toward him but stood rooted to the floor when Xavier emitted another growl, this one far more menacing.

“Back off, Edwin. This is between Sophia and me.
” Nausea swept through him as the shift threatened. “You can stay here or you can go, but either way, things change after tonight.”

Sophia snorted
as she pulled away. “Oh,
now
your dander is up? Maybe you finally get what I’ve been feeling every time I see you with Hannah. Why the hell has it taken you this long to decide which of us you want?”

“You
’ve been waiting for me to become angry?” He gaped. His canine teeth had lengthened and his nose twitched. Sophia showed no fear, and there was no discernable smell of it from her. Xavier inhaled sharply, but she was aroused. “You provoked me.”

“I tested you.
” Sophia stared back, not dropping her gaze, no trace of cowardice in her tense stance. “It’s up to you how you act next.”

Waves of acute desire flooded through him at her open invitation. Finally, after two days of trying to convince the woman they were mates, she took up the challenge and ran with it.
He wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep up, but he welcomed the chase.

First, his friends needed to leave. “Edwin, Hannah, as much as I
’ve enjoyed your visit, I’m afraid I must ask you to go.”

Edwin cleared his throat and grasped Hannah’s hand. “Come woman, we are returning home. You have meddled quite enough in Xavier’s life. Let him take care of himself for once. He might surprise you at his level of proficiency.
”

“But I’m not done talking. We must make plans for—
” Hannah’s words cut off when Xavier growled for a third time, deep and low. “Fine, but I’m not happy.”

“At least I will be.
” Sophia’s mouth turned down in a frown. “I wish you safe travels, and an easy delivery of your children. Xavier and I will send a gift when they’re born.”

Xavier curled
his hands into fists at Sophia’s dictation of his life. She was as bad as Hannah. “We’ll visit before then, I’m sure, once we have worked out the current snags in our relationship.” He sent a warning glance to the object of his obsession. She merely ignored him. She drove him to the brink with apparent relish, and all he could think about was retribution.

“That matter is still up for debate.
” Sophia laid a hand on his forearm. He flexed his muscle in a show of strength. Her accelerated heartbeat was the only indication she noticed. “Take care.”

“Sophia and I will discuss it and then let you know.
” His lips curled when Edwin met his gaze. “Goodbye, Edwin, and good luck.” Xavier clasped his friend on the shoulder; aware Sophia watched his every move. “I’ll send your luggage through the Portal later.”

“Much appreciated. Good luck to you as well. It looks as if you
’ll need it sooner than you think. You are a stronger man than I to take on a Gatekeeper.” Edwin propelled his protesting spouse out the door, pulling it firmly closed behind him.

Slowly, Xavier turned, his
gaze fixed on Sophia’s face. She showed no remorse for her hand in the proceedings, no guilt, only satisfaction, and he meant to knock her down a peg. “I don’t appreciate your high-handed attempt to manipulate my life.”

“Oh, but it was okay for that pushy red-head to boss you?
”

He circled her. “This
doesn’t concern Hannah or Edwin any longer, but has everything to do with you and me.” Xavier made another pass, this time closer to her. “I’m your mate, Sophia. No one else matters.”

“And how do I know you’ll stay true to those words? What happens if you meet some other woman on this quest and decide she’s the one you want?
” Her eyes were as hard as ice. “My life is screwed up enough. If I give in to you and then you betray me, where does that leave my future?”

“I pledge to you now. From this moment forward, the only woman who matters is you. I expect you to give me the same courtesy regarding other men.
” Another pass, and this time his arm touched hers. His canine teeth receded, yet his anger still simmered.

“And if I refuse because I don’t trust you?
”

“Then we
’ll have this conversation again. Perhaps you require further encouragement.” Moving swiftly on silent feet, Xavier crushed her in his arms, slanting his mouth on hers, and plied her lips without gentleness. When she matched him kiss for kiss, his blood rushed loudly in his ears to match the pulse in his groin. He stroked her tongue, worked his fingers underneath her sweater until he cupped her breasts, palming them. “Do you deny the attraction between us?” He dragged his mouth from hers to nip a line of kisses down the side of her neck.

“I don’t deny it, but I still don’t trust you.
” She raked her fingers through his hair then tugged his mouth to hers.

“My fidelity
isn’t in question any longer.” He growled, lifted her in his arms, and carried her to the desk in the corner of the room, finally setting her on the edge. “If I catch you looking, or even talking to, another man, I’ll kill him and come after you.” With one sweep of his arm, Xavier sent the contents of the desktop crashing to the floor. “Do you understand?”

“Then you’d better be as good as you advertise, werewolf.
” She grabbed a handful of his shirt and reeled him in. “Otherwise, I’ll be annoyed and disappointed.” She nibbled a spot just under his jaw that made his knees buckle.

Xavier claimed her lips, moved his mouth over hers as he thumbed her tight nipples. When she moaned and stirred, he laid her back against the desktop. “How much do you desire me, Sophia? Tell me what you want
.” He slipped his fingers over the warm skin of her stomach to fumble at the button on her pants. She was his woman, and she knew it. He felt her tremors deep in her body, long before they broke over her skin.

“Only you.
” Her words were little more than pleas as her eyes drifted close. The dark fringe of her lashes against her pale cheeks held him captive.

With one last searing kiss, Xavier moved away. His chest heaved, his pulse thundered, but he grinned at the provocative picture she made. “That’s too bad because I cannot, in good conscience, make love to you if you don’t fully trust me.
” He playfully smacked her thigh. “Now, put yourself together. I’m sure the mermaid is expecting us.” He was in such a good mood, it didn’t even upset him when the shoe she threw at him smacked him square in the back.