Pursued by a Werewolf (Mystic Isle, Book 4) (12 page)

But patience was not in his wolf’s DNA. Whereas other pups had learned to lay low and watch for dinner, he’d bounded across the fields, scaring potential meals away.

No. His human side had to win this silent battle. He had to win Avery. Otherwise… No. He wasn’t going there.

He would win her.

“I should change,” she said, looking uncertain. At least she hadn’t said no to his invitation.

“You look gorgeous. Perfect actually. I like this slightly flushed thing you’ve got going on.” He waved his hand in her direction and kept a tight leash on his inner beast. She looked good enough to eat.

“That’s a really nice way of saying I’m sweaty.”

He snagged one of the hand towels from the rack on the wall and started toward her. “You’ve always looked your best when you’re sweating,” he murmured as he handed her the towel.

The truth was, she wasn’t sweaty, but he couldn’t resist getting closer to her. Or reminding her about their time together, getting sweaty, finding the ultimate pleasure in each other. While she stood there with the towel in her hands, obviously trying to figure out what to make of him…and hopefully thinking about her proposal last night, he gathered her yoga mat and packed it away in the slender drawstring bag.

“Ready?” he asked, dropping her sandals in front of her. The sound of them smacking against the oak floor galvanized her into action. Sliding her feet into them, she took out the elastic band holding her ponytail and finger combed her hair until it rained down her back.

“Yeah.”

He slid his hand against the naked flesh of her lower back. He didn’t miss the way she leaned, ever so slightly, into his touch.

“Hunter…”

He braced himself for another blow. Damn he loved her. Loved looking down into her beautiful deep blue eyes. Loved watching her mouth curve up or down, tremble with desire, say his name.

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

Her expression softened and her spine relaxed.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but—” She raised up on her tip toes, cupped his cheek with her hand and pressed her lips against his.

Shock and pleasure engulfed him. He had just enough presence of mind to hold himself in check. Though he kissed her back, he made no move to pull her closer. Denying himself the pleasure would be worth it later, he promised his wolf.

She pulled back and stared up at him, her lips parted the slightest bit.

Did she feel it? The connection? The electricity? The magnetism pulling them back together.

“How am I supposed to take that?” he asked softly, trying to sound as casual as possible when every tendon in his body was tight as a guitar string.

“I—” She licked her lips and shook her head as if trying to clear it. “A friend kissing a friend.”

“Look at you, you little rule breaker,” he teased, reminding her of her one night only rule. This latest negotiation was a one-eighty from a year and a half ago when he’d bargained for more than one night. He’d go with it. Maybe not put it into so many words, but if a more physical relationship would keep her attention, then that’s a risk he had to take.

Right now, he needed to get them moving, before she could reason with herself. Before she could talk herself out of going up to the bar with him. He ushered her forward, hand at her back, the other carrying her yoga bag.

“For the record,” he murmured once they were ensconced in the elevator, “I’m available any time you want to break the rules.”

To his surprise, she laughed softly. The sweet sound washed over him like aloe on a sunburn.

“Why doesn’t that surprise me, Hunter Ciolek?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

“You’ve been breaking the rules since the moment we met.”

He shrugged.

“I have a theory…”

When he didn’t expound she asked “which is?”

“The things we want most in life… The things that are the most important to us, they’re worth breaking the rules for. Other than that, I’m an angel.”

She snickered. “Where’s your halo?”

“Right here,” he said pointing above his head. He tipped his head down. “Do you need a closer look?”

She laughed again. “You’re incorrigible.”

“You used to like that about me.”

“I still do,” she said as the elevator doors opened. She strode forward onto the tile floor and then pushed the glass door open. Warm air enveloped them as they crossed the rooftop deck.

Things were in full swing. To the left, two bartenders did tricks as they poured drinks behind a packed bar. Lounge chairs bordered the deck to his right, taking advantage of the breathtaking views. Straight ahead, a dozen or so tables were mixed with privacy offering potted palms.

Maxim waved a hand to get Hunter’s attention. He slipped his hand against Avery’s back again and directed her toward his brother. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, telling him they were being watched. He was used to the sensation and had learned to heed the warnings.

As he glanced around, he noticed a few guys watching Avery. He couldn’t blame them. She was mouthwatering in low slung yoga pants that made her ass look like two perfectly ripe cantaloupes. Her lean torso was bare save for the white sports-bra that showed off her lovely light brown skin to perfection.

“
Bonjour
, all,” Avery said as they approached the table.

Their friends greeted them with smiles and waves. They’d pushed two square tables together and Avery took the chair across from Izzy.

“So I’ve heard that they’ve got a new kind of chicken wings,” he told Maxim and Shade as he helped Avery into her chair. She murmured her thanks and struck up a conversation with Izzy.

A feeling of rightness washed over him. This was how it was supposed to be. Them, together. Hanging out with friends and family. Casual. Friendly. Perfection. Together.

“Oh yeah?” His brother tossed down his menu.

“Something about a new type of sauce. Whattya say, Shade? Up for it?”

“You only live once,” Shade said and they all laughed.

A waitress came over and Hunter ordered two platters of wings. “House cocktail?” he asked Avery.

She nodded. He ordered her drink and a beer for himself.

“How long are you going to be here?” Avery asked Izzy.

“A few more days.”

“We’ve decided to have the wedding here,” Shade added. Avery and Ceara murmured their excitement.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a tall, lithe brunette approaching their table. Her chin length hair was tamed to perfection, almost chiseled. The slight smile curving her brilliant red lipstick had the power to drive a man wild, he was sure. But then, a woman like Valencia Fabelle was bound to have a variety of bring-a-man-to-his-knees tricks up her sleeve.

“Hey V. Can you join us?” Avery said, noticing her coven mate.

“I can. Ceara told me you were getting together.”

Hunter stood and helped her into the chair across from his. She was elegant to a fault and smelled rich and powerful, even a touch mysterious. But she did nothing for him.

He grinned over the top of her head at Avery.

I never realized you were such a gentleman
, she sent the thought quietly into his mind.

I told you, sweetheart, there’s plenty you don’t know about me.

This time when he lowered himself into the chair next to hers, he reached out and used the arm of her chair to pull her closer. She made a small squeak of alarm that brought a smile to his lips.

“What did I miss?” Valencia asked as Hunter put his arm across the back of Avery’s chair. She sat stock still for three heartbeats; then she relaxed back into the shelter of his arm.

“Izzy and Shade have decided to get married on the island,” Ceara said.

“Wonderful. Have you picked out a dress?”

Izzy nodded.

Hunter sat back and listened to the discussion on the virtues of short versus long, straps and strapless. He figured that as long as he didn’t show up naked, he was doing good.

The waitress brought their drinks and took Valencia’s order. Avery hadn’t said much but he could tell by the way she looked at everyone while they were talking that she was paying attention. And yet there was a sadness about her, a subtle droop to her shoulders. He’d studied her for so long, watched all her expressions. There was something bothering her but he had no idea what.

The waitress brought the massive platters of wings and he thought he heard Avery sigh.

What’s wrong?

She glanced at him as he reached for the white dinner plate Maxim passed his way. This position gave him a good look at her face, the flurry of emotions in her eyes.

I miss food.

I bet.

She took a deep breath, obviously relishing the scent of the spicy, tangy wing sauce.

“Good sauce,” Shade announced.

“Mmm hmm,” Maxim agreed, a droplet of deep-orange on his lower lip. Ceara reached over and gathered it with her thumb. Maxim’s eyes never left his mate as he licked her skin clean.

Avery watched the interaction and Hunter saw the thinly veiled desire in her eyes, the tight set of her mouth, her shallow breathing. She certainly wasn’t as unaffected as she wanted everyone to believe. There was a fire burning deep inside her. He’d felt the lick of those flames once before. Had been longing to feel their warmth ever since. He just had to get her to admit it. Admit that he wasn’t just some guy she’d hooked up with once. That he wasn’t some guy she could just use for sex.

Since he couldn’t have what he really wanted, he dug into the wings.

“So how do you know Pearl?” Avery asked, cupping her goblet in both hands.

Though she sat back in her chair and looked relaxed, he could feel the slightest tension in her body. A lot weighed on his answer and he took it as a good sign that she was curious.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin and angled toward her.

“I—”

“He saved my life,” Pearl’s voice carried across the table.

They glanced up to see Pearl watching them, a serene look on her face.

“Mind if I join you?” she asked with a smile.

“Please,” Avery said, waving her hand toward the chair at the end of the table. As Hunter helped Pearl into the chair, Avery put her goblet down and leaned an elbow against the table. “Now this is a story I have to hear.”

“I tell it best,” Pearl said, grinning up at him.

Oh boy. Here it comes. She was going to make him out to be some hero.

“Hunter’s too modest, you know,” Pearl continued. “So there I was, in the South of France, driving along the coast. It was a gorgeous day and my hair was blowing in the breeze.”

She grinned and fluffed her curls. The rest of the table was enthralled. “I came around a corner and there was a truck across the road. I stepped on the brake and swerved to the side. The car behind me couldn’t stop…you know how it is when you’re driving a fancy smancy sports car. He crashed into the back of me and sent me straight over the cliff. It was only about fifteen meters or so, but the car rolled. I was hurt pretty badly. Hunter was coming along from the other direction, stopped, obviously because of the truck across the road. But he climbed down the cliff and pulled me out of the car just before it fell into the water.”

Everyone around the table was silent, their jaws agape.

“I was in the right place at the right time,” Hunter assured them.

“Oh, it was more than that.” Pearl offered everyone at the table a knowing smile. “I’m Pearl, by the way. Avery’s teaching me yoga.” Her light blue eyes lit up, much the same way Avery’s did when she was excited about whatever she was saying.

“Sorry,” Hunter said and quickly introduced her to everyone.

“Did you finalize your slumber party plans?” Pearl directed the question to Avery.

“Slumber party?” He’d heard of them during his time in the states but he’d thought they were for children. Not that he would mind a slumber party with a certain beautiful vampiress.

“Yeah.” She turned toward the other end of the table. “I was talking to Pearl about it this morning. You guys have to come. I’m thinking day after tomorrow. V’s even promised to come.”

She shot Valencia a look, as if she dared the other woman to back out. He loved her sass. And the excitement in her voice. He realized then what had attracted him to her. It wasn’t just her smile, her laugh or the way she looked in a skimpy, red bikini. She had that rare personality that drew people in. She was inclusive, effervescent and was quick to spearhead a plan.

Like right now. The guys sat back and enjoyed their wings as the girls made plans. Laughing, Avery got them into the mood with anecdotes and wistful stories from her childhood and her thoughts of how a proper slumber party should go. Drinks, magazines, nail polish and movies were evidently on tap.

“I guess we’ll have to fend for ourselves,” Maxim said to Shade.

“Oh, I’m sure Hunter will keep you guys entertained.” Avery turned to him, her eyes hopeful. “Won’t you?”

Did she realize she was asking for his help? Turning to him, relying on him? Damn that felt good. Almost like they were a couple.

What do I get out of it?

You are such a negotiator. What do you want?
She cocked her head as she sent the silent message his way.

Instead of saying what he really wanted he settled for something that wouldn’t send her running.

Another we’re-just-friends-breaking-the-rules kiss.

It took her all of a second to consider his proposal. She nodded.

“Of course, I will,” he said aloud, not breaking the connection with her. “We’ll make a day of it.”

The smile that lit her face was nothing short of miraculous. His chest tightened, full of hope and love, and he felt ten feet tall.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Early the next morning, Avery gave up on a sound sleep. The sun was due up in a few hours. She grabbed a magazine and strode out onto the deck, too keyed up. Fifteen pages later she couldn't remember what she'd read or any of the pictures she'd seen.