Pursued by a Werewolf (Mystic Isle, Book 4) (16 page)

“You should tell them, Avery. This is what friends are for,” Valencia said. She seemed so sure, so confident. But Avery didn’t see her announcing her almost wedding to the world.

“You can tell us anything,” Izzy said with a jerky nod.

“Anything,” Coco agreed, taking Avery’s hand in hers.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room by the time Avery got done telling about her past with Robert and the baby and her cancer. Rosanna hopped up and came back with a box of tissues. Coco had an arm wrapped around Avery’s shoulders and Izzy held her hands.

“I wish I could be like you guys and just jump in with both feet. But the truth is… I just don’t believe in forever. That’s a really long time. What if we get tired of each other? What if there’s another war before vampires and werewolves? What if he stops loving me?”

A half dozen heart beats of silence followed and she felt guilty for saying anything. Especially to three friends who were head over heels and believed in things like happily ever after and forever.

“You can’t live your life based on
what ifs
, Avery. What if you never get tired of each other, if there’s never another war? What if he never stops loving you?” Coco said and Avery realized how much sense her friend made.

“You did believe,” Izzy said quietly. “Once. You can believe again.”

Avery inhaled deeply and sent Izzy a tender smile. “You’re right. But that was a long time ago.”

Before the life that she’d planned out had been snatched away. And then, surprise, surprise. She was made immortal. But that still didn’t mean she couldn’t die. Ceara’s parents had been murdered. So had Valencia’s.

Coco made an unladylike snorting sound. “I’m calling BS on that,
chérie
. A long time is waiting a century to be with your true love. If you think there’s something with Hunter, don’t wait a single day to find out. Grayson and I have been together almost two years and they’ve been the best days of my life.”

“Me too,” Ceara agreed.

Izzy nodded again, her platinum blonde hair swinging forward. “Me too. I love Shade more than I thought possible. He changed me.”

“They changed all of us,” Coco said, staring at Avery. “In the best possible way, you see?”

Avery thought she heard Rosanna sigh and Avery’s foolish heart was aching, desperate to believe.

“At least you’ve got someone who’s interested and can act on it,” Pearl inserted carefully, glancing Avery’s way.

“I didn’t want to turn this into a pity party. That’s why I don’t tell people. I had a nice life. It went to hell. I got a second chance. Let’s talk about flowers,” she said, hoping they’d let her change the subject.

“The florist already ordered them,” Rosanna said, reading over her list. “Not much to talk about there.”

Before one of them could start in again, Avery glanced at Izzy. “Is Pierre coming for the wedding?”

Izzy grinned. “Of course.”

“Doting on her as usual,” Coco said.

The elderly vamp, Shade’s butler, let everyone who would listen know how thrilled he was for Shade and Izzy. It was insanely cute. He was a heartbeat away from pinching cheeks and begging for grandbabies. Not that he was Shade’s father. And since Izzy wasn’t a full blood vamp, natural babies were pretty much out of the question.

Avery’s eyes misted over. She was in the same camp as Izzy…only once upon a time she’d fully planned on becoming a mother. If everything had gone as planned she’d have raised her kids by now. Changed countless diapers, been witness to tender smiles and plenty of childhood wonder. Sent them off to high school and hopefully, watched them fall in love and start a family of their own.

But some things just weren’t meant to be.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

As night fell, Valencia claimed old age was getting to her and wished everyone a good night. Avery was sad to see the party winding down. The massive coffee table was covered with wine goblets and bottles, magazines and enough nail polish paraphernalia to make a stylist jealous.

Izzy and Ceara were asleep on the other leg of the sectional, a fluffy throw pillow perched between their heads. She and Pearl were the last hold outs.

“You throw a fun party,” Pearl said, stretching. She covered a yawn with her hand and then tossed her magazine onto the pile.

“It’s been a while… Valencia normally hires someone to throw our parties. They’re usually shorter but far more elegant affairs,” Avery said with a rueful smile. “But I’m so glad you came and had a good time.”

“I wonder what the guys did all day.”

She twirled a blonde curl around her index finger and then studied the strands.

Avery watched her newest friend closely. Her angelic features couldn’t hide the longing in her voice. Why was it that women let themselves get so wrapped up in men and relationships? Then again, Avery was as guilty of it as the next woman. First with Robert…and now with Hunter.

“Did I say something wrong?” Pearl asked, hands clasped between her knees.

For a princess she sure was good at second guessing herself.

Avery offered her a reassuring smile. “No. Not at all. I was just thinking.”

“It is easy to get lost in thought.” Pearl paused and then smiled. “Especially where men are concerned.”

Avery laughed. “True.”

She might have her hang-ups, but Mystic Isle was still paradise. The men were smoking hot. And one in particular…he was head and shoulders above the rest in so many ways.

A loud bang jolted them upright. Deep voices and more heavy footed stomps across the cottage’s porch announced the men’s arrival. “Speak of the devils.”

Izzy and Ceara stirred, blinking and stretching.

“Rise and shine, sleeping beauties,” Avery said as she strode for the door. She’d just reached for the handle when there was a knock on the other side that made her heart skip a beat. Maybe it wasn’t the guys. Maybe it was a group who’d gotten the wrong cabin.

She looked through the peephole. To her relief, Hunter stood there, tall and ridiculously handsome. After flipping the lock, she swung the door wide.

Hunter and Maxim were holding Shade up.

“Hi Avery,” Shade said with that killer smile of his. “Is my fiancé still here?”

He was charmingly sloshed.

“She is. Come on in.”

“We threw an impromptu bachelor’s party,” Hunter explained to the women as they escorted the demon into the cottage.

Outside, the last wisps of daylight colored the night sky. She shut the door and then opened all the curtains. At the far end of the cottage she propped the French doors open, letting in a salty ocean breeze.

She turned to find Hunter heading her way, all quiet confidence and gorgeous muscles that filled his polo shirt to perfection.

“Have a good day?” she asked. She so wasn’t used to this staying up all day business. But that was the point of a slumber party; stay up when you’d normally be snuggled in your bed.

An image of her and Hunter snuggled together in his bed filled her mind. Despite the twisted sheets, the mental picture had an innocence to it. But there was nothing innocent about the way he got her motor going. Nothing innocent at all.

“It’s getting better by the second,” he murmured.

He didn’t even have to touch her. His words did the caressing for him.

Holy smokes it was getting hot in here. Did his eyes normally glitter like that? She didn’t think so. The phrase ‘eat you up’ came to mind.

She resisted the urge to fan herself and changed the topic. “What’d you guys do?”

Peering around his broad shoulder she saw Shade sacked out on the couch, Izzy in his arms. Ceara was settled on Maxim’s lap, chatting with Pearl. Despite the riot of emotions involving the man in front of her, it was good to be surrounded by her friends.

“This and that.” He slung an arm over her shoulders and pulled her against his side. “I want to hear about your slumber party. Was it everything you’d hoped it would be?”

She held out a foot and pointed her toes, showing off the fire engine red toe nail polish.

He growled low in his throat and a shiver coursed over her skin.

“We gave each other pedicures and drank wine. Pearl ate like two pounds of candy, the lucky girl. And then we had a meeting with Rosanna about Izzy’s wedding. And we read magazines and looked at wedding dresses until we were ready to puke. All in all, a successful slumber party.”

She specifically left out the game of truth or dare that had made Avery reconsider everything she knew to be true, including her feelings for a spectacularly handsome - and warm - werewolf.

“Good.”

She looked up at him. “I want to hear about this bachelor party.”

How sweet was it for the guys to throw Shade a party? Her heart melted a little. But it was just further evidence to what her conscience had been telling her. Hunter Ciolek was one of a kind.

“Jealous?”

His eyes were glittery again and she inhaled a steadying breath.

“Do I need to be?”

The strong arm around her shoulders pulled her closer until her front met his. “Never.”

The single word set something free inside her, something wonderful and scary at the same time. She had the strongest urge to kiss him and something inside her wouldn’t be denied. Stretching up, she steadied herself against his chest. He leaned down, cupped her cheek in his hand and his lips met hers half way.

Peace washed through her as their lips touched. He was gentle but firm, telling her exactly how much he wanted her. He poured desire into the kiss and quickly swept her away.

Catcalls made her pull back. Wide eyed, she stared up at Hunter, shocked that she’d lost control in front of their friends and family.

“You guys don’t mind if I steal Avery for a while do you?” Hunter asked in that rich velvety voice that made her knees weak. To top off the ooey-gooey sensation, his gaze never left hers as he spoke, showing that she had his full attention.

“Take her!” Pearl called.

“Go get a room,” Maxim teased.

Hunter raised an eyebrow at her in challenge. She didn’t back down. She might regret that decision later but right now her confidence was sky high, just like her libido.

He slid an arm around her waist, turned to the open doors and gently tugged her outside. She was trembling. With excitement, desire or a combination thereof she wasn’t sure. But she loved the feeling, adored the anticipation of being alone with her wolf again.

Side by side they strode down the steps into the sand. She loved that she could go pretty much anywhere on Mystic Isle and not have to worry about wearing shoes. And she loved how the island seemed to bring her once carefree nature back, quietly whispering that she didn’t always have to be practical. Nor did she have to worry about forever or play loose and easy to have fun. With Hunter by her side, there was no need to guard herself every minute of every day.

“Steal me away, huh?” she said when they were halfway to the water’s edge.

He squeezed her. “You bet.”

“Where will you steal me off to?” she asked pulling away and walking backward in front of him.

He gave her a heated look. She didn’t need stars, moon or lamplight to see the expression on his face. Her vampire sight and the heat in his eyes was plenty.

“Where ever I want.”

Cocky and handsome. She sighed. She was such a sucker for cocky and handsome. Laid back and handsome worked too. He worked.

“Oh yeah?” she teased.

“Yeah.”

“You’ll have to catch me first.” She started running before the last word left her lips. Laughing, she raced up the beach toward the private north-west shore. Knowing the sand closest to the waves would be the hardest, she darted toward the water. The firmer footing gave her a boost of speed.

She was several hundred yards from the cottage when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and she lost her balance. They collided, a mass of tangled limbs, and landed in the salty froth. She laughed so hard she swallowed a mouthful of water.

Moving deeper into the gentle waves, he held her up so she could wipe the hair out of her eyes. Feeling joyous, she threw her arms around his shoulders and held on tight.

It felt so good to laugh, to feel free and frisky and playful. The same feelings she’d had the first night they were together and yet, there was something more, something deeper between them. She was done questioning their connection.

Instead, she wrapped her legs around his hips and lifted her lips for his kiss.

This wasn’t a sweet in-front-of-friends-and-family kiss. It was hard and demanding. The kind that showed they couldn’t get enough of each other.

She was soaked to the bone and didn’t care. This was where she’d wanted to be for a long time and it felt right, perfect.

His hands slid beneath the shirt plastered against her torso, caressing and heating her skin. He rained kisses across her cheeks, down her nose, along the edge of her jaw. “I need you Avery,” he said against the column of her throat.

“I’ve needed you every day for the past twenty-one months and I’m done hiding it, done pretending that
we
don’t matter. That this…” He traced a thumb over her lips. “Doesn’t matter. If you don’t want this say so now.”

Cocky, laid back, handsome…and a man who knew what he wanted, yet the vulnerability in his voice touched her. How could she turn down this strong, wonderful wolf? There was only one word on her lips.

“Yes.”

He kissed her again as he carried her out of the water onto the beach. She returned kiss for kiss, hot, open-mouthed, pouring everything she felt but did not dare say. He groaned and the sound rumbled through the solid wall of his chest to her nipples.

She purred deep inside, shimmying against him. He held her easily, hands cupping her ass, holding her tight against his hips. The long, hard evidence of his desire lay squarely between her legs and she soaked in his heat.

Locking her ankles behind his back, she couldn't resist grinding against him. Just as it had last time, the eager movement drove him wild. He growled, low and long.