Soul Mates: Scent (The Soul Mates Series) (7 page)

I’ll come over later, after I finish this, oui?

“I’m looking forward to it,” I whispered again as I stepped out of the shower and dried my hair with a towel.

As am I, mon amour.

I was in my room when I felt Anna’s approach. It was as if a wave of calmness settled over me, lifting the feelings of anxiousness I had been feeling while we were apart. Not that I realized I was feeling anxious until the calmness came over me. Strange that.

A bizarre thought entered my head and I couldn’t resist putting words to my thoughts. “So are you in panther mode or human mode?” I whispered into my pillow as I lay on the top bunk of my bed. I’d always liked the height of being on the top bunk.

I heard her lilting laughter in my mind.
Panther
mode
at
the
moment,
mon
amour,
but
I
will
shift
at
the
edge
of
your
woods.

I grinned as a wicked thought crept into mind, I hadn’t planned to actually ask her, but well she can read my mind…

Max!
What
a
question!
She laughed again and my heart jumped a little.
Hmmm,
I
suppose
on
a
strictly
need
to
know
basis
I
should
tell
you.
I
would
not
want
you
shifting
somewhere
public
without
the
benefit
of
clothing
for
your
very
nice
human
form!
Oui,
when
we
shift
back
to
human,
we
are
bare.

My grin deepened at the thought of Anna naked at the edge of my woods.

I
will
not
be
unclothed
when
I
come
to
your
door,
Max.
She giggled.
I
have
clothes
nearby.

“Really? Where do you keep them? While you are running I mean?”

Today
I
planned
ahead.
We
do
have
to
do
quite
a
bit
of
that
I
’
m
afraid.
I
left
a
satchel
of
clothes
in
the
woods,
after
school.

“ Aw…darn, I was hoping…” I said teasingly.

I heard her sweet laugh again.
I
know
what
you
were
hoping
Max!
I
shall
just
be
a
few
moments
more.

I sat up on my bunk and a feeling of exhilaration flooded through me, like I was prepping for a game, but better. I jumped down and went to let mom and dad know we were going to have company. I nearly tripped on the stairs when I overheard mom telling dad that we were having a special guest visiting in a few minutes. Apparently mom already knew.
Holy
Crap!
Had
mom
been
in
my
head
while
I
was
talking
to
Anna
about
her
being
naked?
I began hyperventilating.
Had
she
seen
what
I
was
thinking?

I stood statue still on the stairs, freaking out and panicking inside. My gaze met my mother’s and I freaked out some more.

Mom laughed. “No Max, thank the good Lord I wasn’t in your head, but just for the heck of it… Shame on you!” Mom grinned up at me. “Max, I can only hear what you are thinking when you are thinking about me, so while I wasn’t in your head for the conversation, I was in your head for the… lovely recap.”

“Shit.”

“Max! Watch your language please. You know how quickly Abbey is at picking up words.”

“Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit,” Abbey said from mom’s arms.

Mom sighed. “You see?”

“Shit my Max, Max, Max,” Abbey continued as mom set her down.

“Sorry mom.”

“Abbey, why don’t you go in with daddy? I bet he has a treat for you.”

“Treat! Treat Max! Shit treat!” Abbey said as she ran off to the living room.

I couldn’t help it, I laughed. “Sorry mom.”

“It’s all right, dear. Your father has some hors d'oeuvres in the living room. I picked up some fresh sushi before dinner; I think Anna will like it. It’s great granny’s favorite.”

“Thanks mom,” I said as I headed for the door. “Anna’s coming up the drive.”

“Max, greet her outside. I don’t want your dad to have a heart attack when he sees you and Anna together. You know how much he likes Jenny and her family.”

“Yeah, okay,” I said and quickly stepped outside. She looked amazing. Her long raven hair hung vividly down her back and her deep blue eyes shone brightly in the moonlight. The vibrant green blouse she wore fit her as snuggly as her jeans. I felt my stomach muscles and below tighten at the sight of her.

Max.

I caught her around the waist and pulled her close, so close that our middles were pressed hard together. I buried my face in her neck and breathed in her unique scent and realized that it wasn’t perfume that she wore; the scent that drove me insane was her, her skin. I pressed my lips to the pulse beating wildly in her neck and then along her jaw to her lips as she wrapped her arms around me and held on tightly.

I heard her purr as we broke the kiss for a moment and I answered with a throaty growl before capturing her lips in a more desperate kiss. I pressed my tongue between her teeth and stroked the velvety softness of her mouth. When we finally broke apart I could barely breathe.

Mmm,
missed
you,
Max.
Anna pressed her face into my shoulder.

Missed
you
too.
I thought with a contented smile.
Want
to
meet
my
family?

“Mais oui,” Anna said looking up at me with a smile. She pulled back a little and settled herself at my side, her arm wrapped around my waist so she could snuggle into my shoulder.

I draped my arm across her shoulders and walked with her to the door.
Dad
has
no
idea,
so
…

“It will be fine, Max.”

I nodded and opened the door. Mom was of course waiting in the hall with Abbey ready to greet us. Mom’s cheeks were stained a little pink, so I guessed she was picking up some of my feelings about Anna, not all of them were meant for public consumption. I wasn’t going to be embarrassed, it wasn’t my fault that mom could read my thoughts. If she didn’t want to know them, then she should disconnect the line. I raised my eyebrow at her and grinned.

Max,
do
not
tease
your
mother
. Anna smacked my chest lightly with her well-manicured hand.

I looked down and met her answering grin. “Mom, this is Anna. Anna, my mother.”

“Anna it is such a pleasure to meet you.”

“Madame Fergus, I have been looking forward to this day for a very long time. The pleasure is all mine.”

“This is my sister Abbey, she’s two. Abbey this is Anna.”

“I two,” Abbey held up two fingers, one on each hand. “You pretty cat.”

Both Anna’s and mom’s eyes flew to mine; as if I would have told Abbey that Anna was a shape shifter. “Er…Abbey? What did you say about Anna?”

Abbey laughed. “Anna pretty. Pretty cat.” She pointed at Anna’s neck, where a sparkling black panther charm lay in the hallow of her throat. “Me have pretty cat?” Abbey asked as she made grabbing motions at the necklace.

Anna breathed a sigh of relief. “Mais non, my sweet, this cat is a gift from mon père. I never take it off.”

Never?
I wondered, sending her a curious glance.

Never, mon amour. Not even when I shift. It is of special material, formed by the gods and goddesses. This necklace has been passed down through my family since the beginning of our kind. When I am in panther mode as you call it, the necklace lays below my fur.

“Well, Anna, come into the living room and meet Max’s father.” Mom led us into the room and dad stood up. His eyes narrowed when he noticed my arm wrapped around Anna’s waist. “Alan, this is Anna Lissa Felidae. Anna, my husband, Alan Fergus.”

“Monsieur Fergus, it is a pleasure.”

“Oh, you’re French,” my father said with surprise. “Olivia didn’t mention. Sorry, nice to meet you.” Dad held out his hand and Anna shook it. “Please, won’t you sit? Olivia made these delicious sushi things; I can’t seem to stop eating them. Won’t you try one?”

Anna blinked. I could tell that my father’s speedy conversation astounded her, but she admirably kept up. “Oui, they smell delicious, Madame Fergus.” Anna said as she took a seat upon the love seat.

I sat down next to her, close enough that our knees were touching and I held her hand. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed dad frown.

“Olivia, please Anna. Madame Fergus is such a mouthful,” Mom said as she took Abbey out of the room and up the stairs to get her ready for bed.

“So Anna, where’re you from? Are you staying in Indiana long? Have you been here before? What brought you here?”

Anna laughed and my heart skipped a beat. “I’m from Quebec. I have been to Indiana before, and I liked it very much. I like the national forests and the trees, the seclusion. I am not a big city girl. I like the out of doors.”

“Good, good. We have lots of woods and forests around here. Good places to hunt too. You like to hunt Anna? Max likes to hunt, fish too, don’t you Max?”

“Yeah, I do,” I answered.

“Oui, I too like to hunt and fish, but not with the gun. I am not fond of guns.”

“Funny, Max isn’t either. We hunt with a bow; much more sporting, or so Max says. Of course we only kill what will fill the freezer for the season. No sense wasting life, right Max?’

“Oui, I could not agree with you more Monsieur Fergus,” Anna said as I nodded in agreement.

“Oh stop that. Call me Alan.”

Anna smiled that heart-stopping smile that melted me every time she flashed it. “Merci, Alan.”

“So Anna, what else do you like? Do you like football?”

“I like to read and I like to learn new things. I like very much to swim. I do not know very much about football, I fear, but I very much like Max, and football is important to him, so I shall learn about it.”

“Well now, Max is a popular boy. Quarterback, president of student council. Lots of things to like about Max. Lots of girls like Max.”

“Oui, I know.” Anna smiled up at me. “Max is very popular.”

“Dad…” I tried to stop him, but he wasn’t listening to me.

“Not just popular, he’s the most popular boy at school…”

“Dad, stop, please…”

“And he’s dating the head cheerleader. Yep, life doesn’t get much better than that, does it Max?”

“Dad, mom told you. I know she did. She told you I broke up with Jenny,” I said in aggravation.

“Aw, it was just a misunderstanding, son. I’m sure. Jenny is a good girl. She’ll change her mind. After all you are the quarterback,” dad said as if that was the answer to everything.

“Dad, I broke up with her,” I said firmly.

Are you sure it is over, mon amour?

Trust
me,
it
’
s
over
and
I
have
no
qualms
abut
us,
Anna.
I said in my head as I stared deep into her eyes, trying to let her know how serious I was.

I hope so my love, for I will not share you.

“You broke up with her? But son, Jenny is the head cheerleader! You’re the quarterback. It’s written in the stars!” Dad stood up and gestured wildly.

I rolled my eyes. “No dad, it isn’t. Jenny and I were never meant to be. I think we dated because we thought we were supposed to; because you and Mr. Lupel liked the idea of us; never really because we had feelings for each other. Not really. I see that now.”

“But what about my weekly golf game with Jim? You didn’t break his daughter’s heart did you? He’ll never speak to me!”

“No dad, I didn’t.”
I
don
’
t
think
she
actually
has
one.

Oh, Max.

“Well, all right then. You’re sure?” Dad scratched his head as if he couldn’t get his mind wrapped around the thought that Jenny and I would not be together for life.