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Fredi was left breathless as Gus stretched his legs against the silk patchwork of bedcovers and waited. The seductive gleam in his eyes simmered. A Moroccan lantern set on the nightstand cast geometric patterns of blue and amber across the side of his face and added a dramatic splash of color to the wall.
“Well?” His voice was gentle. “You can’t kiss me if you don’t come closer.”
She inched across the mattress, feeling a dizzying mix of emotions, the least of which was pure nerves. Propped on an elbow, she lay on her side and reconsidered what she was doing. Being this close to him was a real test of courage. He was so kissable, but she didn’t trust herself at all where the Wiccan fire was concerned.
“Are you sure about this?”
He remained calm. “Yes.”
“I’ll start slow just in case—”
“You’re overthinking things.”
With fingertips pointed toward the ceiling and exercising extreme caution, she snuggled closer and kissed the dark, glossy hair on the center of his chest. The kiss was more of a faint brush of lips against bare skin, but it felt wonderful to be close to the heat rolling off his body and catch a whiff of his light, musky scent. She kissed his chest again. The kiss lingered, and she allowed the tip of her tongue to graze the edge of his nipple. Anxious seconds passed as she waited for the blast of green flames to roar from her fingertips, and she exhaled with relief when they didn’t materialize.
“I don’t feel anything. No fire.”
“I never thought I’d be so relieved to hear those words spoken in bed.” He focused on her. “Now, why don’t you let your guard down and give me a real kiss?”
“A kiss kiss?”
“A real kiss.”
“Gus, if I hurt you or set the bed ablaze, I’ll never forgive myself. Think about what could go wrong. It could be awful. A charred crime scene wrapped in yellow tape...”
His voice dropped to an almost inaudible rumble. “Fredi.”
“What?”
“Stop talking and kiss me.”
She pointed her fingers skyward, pressed close, and brushed her lips against his. He returned her cautious kiss with a soft mouth that still carried a fragrant hint of Hoodoo Blue. The kiss deepened. She wanted more. The breath caught in his chest as he arched off the mattress and parted his lips for her. His attempt to get closer was so sweet. The warm sweep of his tongue against hers drew her in, slapped her senses alert, and left her skin tingling. Stunned, Estele’s words tumbled through her mind, and she wondered if, for once, Estele could be right—was Gus the man for her?
She broke the kiss with an astonished gasp. “Wow.”
A dreamy look floated over his face.
“Do you want more?” she asked.
He nodded.
She dared to lower her hands and stroked a strand of hair from his brow. For a moment, she allowed herself the luxury of looking into his eyes, wishing her lashes were as lush. He gazed at her with a confident openness, as if he’d always known her. A little flutter of surprise caught her off guard when she realized he was so easy to be with. There was no need to pretend in front of him or apologize for being bigger, bolder, and witchier than most men could handle. She caressed the side of his face. “I love that you’re not scared of me.”
“Are men often scared of you?”
“I’ve met a few who are.”
“I think they’re fools.”
She paused. “I either scare men off, or I meet men who want me to dominate them.”
His face flushed. “A dominant streak in a woman doesn’t frighten me. What do you want?”
“I’ll admit I’m bossy and comfortable taking charge, but it would be sort of nice to get a break.”
“And have someone take care of you?”
Her face grew warm. “Yes.”
“Fredi, I want a woman who can be both. I’m not afraid to be tied to your bed, and I’m certainly not afraid to be set loose. With my hands free and your consent.” His gaze smoldered. “The things I would do...”
The thought of all the wicked things she’d say yes to made her head spin. “What about all the things I could do to you? You’re the one who’s tied to the headboard. I’ve been going without for a long time, and you look exactly like what I need to break a nasty dry spell.”
A slight smile curled his lips. “Do it, Fredi. Show me what a hot witch with soft hands and a wicked mouth can do to my sanity.”
“What if I decide to keep you tied to my bedposts and just toy with you?”
“I’m all yours.”
It was too good to be true. The idea of testing her powers and teasing Gus while shamelessly turning them both on was irresistible.
“Let me try something.” She rose on her elbow and sat.
In a graceful motion, she hiked her dress higher, exposing a shapely thigh, and swung a leg across his lean hips to straddle him. With her palms braced on his chest, she stroked her fingers across the broad expanse of lean muscle.
“I love your build.”
His eyes twinkled. “I love yours. You’re all woman.”
She settled her weight on him and felt the bulge in his pants push back.
“Oh.” He groaned. “I’m between your legs. I’m so glad you can’t see what I’m thinking.”
“But I can feel it.” The thrills soared as she gazed at her handsome captive tensing his heavy arms against the silk scarf. “I want to believe the green fire is under control. If this doesn’t burn the house down, then we’ll know we’re safe.”
He looked at her. “This is totally hot. Now I wish you were still wearing the boots.”
Fredi stroked a delicate finger along the ridge of his nose. “If you’re good, maybe next time there’ll be boots, a corset, and a very sheer bra.”
“I have to wait to see that?” He sighed. “It will kill me.”
“It won’t kill you, but you will suffer. You have to understand I’ve not allowed myself to fantasize or even entertain a sensual thought in months. I’m all pent up. Something’s got to give. You’re my way back into relaxing with myself and having a guiltless good time. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m glad Estele cast that stupid hoodoo on us.”
“I agree.”
“If she hadn’t done it, I would have taken one look at you and run away.”
“Because I’m Lycan?”
“Because you’re terrific, and I was convinced I wasn’t ready to come out and play.”
“But you’ll play now?”
“I’ll test the waters. How far I’m willing to go has yet to be decided.”
A hopeful smile curled his lips. “How about just for tonight we both agree that whatever happens is good?”
“Okay.”
“I mean it, Fredi. Once the full moon passes and Estele’s damn hoodoo wears off, I want to ask you on a real date.”
She teased his nipples to tiny points. “What’s your idea of a real date?”
“A candlelit dinner on my patio. I’ll cook.”
“You cook? I’m impressed. What would you feed me? And don’t say sausage.”
He grinned. “I have no idea, but I’ll think of something.”
“You surprise me.”
“That I cook? Lycans don’t eat everything raw. I’ve got a good nose. I like well-seasoned food.”
“I’m interested in what your sensitive nose tells you about me?”
A glimmer of mischief shone in his eyes. “I like your perfume. It’s deep, but not overpowering. I’d guess amber and resin notes. I’m not smelling any musty floral notes, and...”
“And what?”
“You’re very aroused.”
She wriggled on top of him. “You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure that out.”
“You’re also stressing and struggling hard not to be.”
“That might be my preoccupation with fire prevention.”
“I think you can relax.”
“Why do you say that?”
“It’s subtle, but your scent has changed in the past hour. It’s softer. Something’s different.”
Her thighs squeezed him. “What do you think is different?”
“I’m not sure I should say.”
“You like keeping secrets?”
“No, I don’t want to alarm you.” He remained silent for several awkward moments.
“Say it, or I might climb off you and sit on the edge of the bed.”
He tensed. “Don’t do that!”
She twisted the scarf a little tighter. “Tell me.”
“Your scent is... harmonizing with mine.”
“What does that mean?”
His brows drooped. “See? This is why I’m still single and should not have brought this up so soon.”
Fredi pulled away. “Uh-oh...”
“Yeah, we would be ideal mates. I’m sorry to say this at our first meeting, but it’s rare and it’s true.”
“This is a Lycan thing, isn’t it? How rare?”
“This is the first time I’ve felt this distinct of a click with anyone.”
A shiver raced through her when he spoke. “Maybe the Hoodoo Blue is still messing with us?”
“Could be.”
She swirled her fingertips against his chest. “In fact, we should assume the Hoodoo Blue is still active and making us think and do things we can’t completely trust.”
He gazed at her with longing. “I refuse to give that damn drink so much credit.”
“What do you credit?”
“Fate.” He sounded confident.
“Dark, brooding fate?”
A crooked smile lit his face. “I like you, Fredi. Why don’t you tease me some more? Show me what I can’t have. Really torture me.”
“You mean keep touching you in a provocative manner and maybe take off my clothes? You think you’re so clever. Well, you sort of are.”
A glint of mischief flashed in his eyes. “What if I dared you to do something?”
Her heart hammered. “I don’t scare easily—ask.”
“I dare you to kiss a straight line from my collarbone to my chest and as low as you’re willing to go.”
“While still tied?”
“Unless you want to untie me, but there’s no guarantee I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
“I think I prefer seeing your beautiful body bound to my headboard.”
A crooked smile crossed his lips. “Then do it.”
She leaned over and allowed the silky cascade of her hair to tumble onto his chest, and slowly swept it against his skin, knowing the sway of her breasts was adding to the spectacle. For a breathless moment, she hovered above him before gently kissing his collarbone then the swell of his chest. She traced the line of kisses lower and nipped the ticklish little spot on the side of his ribs.
He twisted his wrists against the scarf. “Keep going.”
The gentle rake of her fingernails teased his sensitive underarms. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes, I would.” His voice was breathy.
With fluid grace, she slid down his torso until she arched over him with her hips pressed high like a cat stretching. She brushed a kiss against his belly and drank in the heady sensation of every muscle in his body tense in reaction to her. A big, strong man bound to the bedposts and ready to beg was a sweet little triple-scoop chocolate sundae of a power trip. He was about to get teased, badly. The kisses lingered and became wetter, with a gliding tongue that skimmed along the ridges of his abdomen. Stopping briefly to explore his belly button, she licked a faint hint of salt from his skin. By then, his jeans were strained taut. She toyed with the waistband, tugging it lower, and plucked at the last silver button on the fly.
“You look like you’re miserable in these tight pants. Should I free you?”
Gus answered with a gravelly moan.
She lifted her hands. “No. I think I’ll wait. I’m enjoying myself.”
Desperation etched a deep crease between his brows. “I knew you would do that.”
“But did you know I would do this?” She parted the top of her dress and slid the stretchy knit fabric aside to reveal a lacy black strap. “This bra’s not sheer, but it is so pretty. The dark fabric does disguise how large my nipples are. If only you could see them. They are a lovely shade of coral. Do you like coral?”
“I love it.”
“Good.” She leaned over and allowed the front of her dress to fall open. Lots of creamy cleavage showed, along with a bit of black lace. The moonstone pendant around her neck swung back and forth in a slow, hypnotic rhythm.
Breathless expectation shone on his face.
“Nice view, isn’t it? I’m proud of my breasts. I can see you like them, but don’t get your hopes up. I’m not taking my bra off right now, because that’s an honor you’ll have to earn.” She stroked a slender finger between her breasts. “This is privileged territory, and I’m choosy about who I allow to snuggle between these beauties.”
“What would I have to do to earn it?”
“Really turn me on.”
His eyes lit at the challenge. “I think I need my hands free for that.”
“I disagree. I refuse to untie you, at least not yet. The true test of a lover’s ingenuity is how adaptable he is.” She reached toward the nightstand, opened a drawer, and removed a slender, sheathed dagger. He focused on her every move with a furrowed brow as she drew the obsidian-handled knife from its leather sleeve to reveal a hand-forged blade with an intricate star pattern hammered into the steel.
Gus stared at the blade with trepidation. “What are you doing with that?”
“Do you know what this is?”
“It looks like trouble to me.”
“It's not. This is an athame. It’s a witch's knife. Its purpose is to divide herbs and cast enchantments. I would never use it to harm anyone.” She lifted the hem of her dress to her hip and hooked her thumb inside the lacy edge of her black panties. “Watch.” She pulled the lace away from her hip, slid the blade beneath the fabric, and sliced. As it was cut, the elastic made a sharp pop.
“Oops.” She let the dress fall, lifted the hem on the other side, and cleanly sliced the lace on that hip. With a flourish, she gingerly took hold of the destroyed panties, speared them on the tip of the blade, and flung them over her shoulder before setting the athame on the nightstand. “You know what will happen next, don’t you? This is where it gets dangerous. I’m going to climb up the bed and grab hold of that headboard like it’s a fucking life raft in a storm, straddle your face, and beg for kisses and lots of wet tongue. You’ll use your beautiful mouth to take me to Heaven like you’ve never licked pussy before. You will give me pleasure until I say I’ve had enough.”
He gulped a deep breath that made his chest swell. “Bring it.”
“Beg for it.” Her gaze locked on his as she crept forward on hands and knees. “I see a taste of the wild in those eyes.”
“You’re going to feel it, too.”
As she drew closer to the head of the bed, she paused to brush a soft kiss across the lush cushion of his lips, knowing a mouth as responsive as his would deliver the sweetest pleasure. She curled her fingers around the wrought-iron filigree of the headboard and swung a leg over his shoulders to straddle the sides of his face.
He gazed at her. “Lift your dress.”
She reached for the hem with one hand and bunched the clingy knit to her hips. “As you can see, I’m a natural blonde.”
“Come closer, blondie.”
She was already close, inches from his mouth. His wavy hair and warm breath tickled her inner thighs. The sensations were so tantalizing as she waited for the first voluptuous touch of his lips.
“Fredi, this feels like a dream.”
“Mmm.” She swayed her hips. “It sure does.” Being on top of a powerfully built man who said sweet things, and was obviously as turned on as she was, felt like a turbocharged wet dream. She was eager to feel his mouth gliding across her lust-starved pussy.
Gus arched off the mattress to meet her and pressed a tender kiss between her thighs. He rocked his face from side to side as he drew in her scent. “You do understand that because I’m Lycan and you’re keying into me—I’ll go ballistic when I get the chance.”
“It’s not your turn. Ladies first.” She lowered her hips, pressed against his mouth, and waited for the first firm stroke of his tongue to begin the teasing torment she knew was coming. His mouth was soft and tongue slick. The edges of his jaw were gritty with stubble in contrast to her smooth thighs, but it felt great to be riding a man whose touch was sensuous and not the least bit inhibited. The initial rush of excitement as his mouth glided across her flesh left her drenched. With a languid sweep, she rocked her hips against him. The kisses grew deeper as he used the tip of his tongue to explore every sensitized inch of her. She’d been starving for something this good. The subtle sensations were breathtaking, and with each moment, it got better. Her clit became the ember-hot center of her world and it became difficult not to squeeze him too hard between her thighs. Taking command, she tangled her fingers in his thick hair. “Sweetheart, don’t be afraid to suck.”
He obeyed by caressing her clit and drawing her into the wettest, most intimate kiss. The pressure was perfect, light but not timid. He took his time with her, making soft, sexy growls all the while that added to the excitement of having a half-feral Lycan in her bed. The thrumming rhythm of his tongue and the slight nip of his teeth felt good; faint moans slipped past her lips. She rolled her hips faster. He sucked her clit harder and held it between his lips, teasing her. Each stunning caress made her rocket higher. She realized she was holding her breath, almost in suspense and unable to believe the magnitude of the monster orgasm that had snuck up on her like a rogue wave.
“Holy fuck!” She clutched the headboard with tensing fingers and hung on as she allowed herself to go wild from the pleasure pouring through her. The air fled her lungs as a bright moment of bliss burst over her, followed by a sweet, floating sensation of ah that rolled on and on from scalp to sole. Her toes curled to an aching cramp. She might have cried out, but it may have been Gus. After gulping a few shallow breaths, she couldn’t be sure who was making all the noise, and it didn’t matter anyway. The only thing that was certain was she wanted more.
Gus soothed her through each last ripple of pleasure until they faded. When the heavenly tingle flickered out, she was so sensitive she pulled away and stroked the dark hair from his brow.
“You felt wonderful.”
He opened his eyes and looked at her with a dreamy expression. His mouth glistened. “We’re not done until you say we are. I’m all yours.”
Fredi reached for the scarf and loosened the knot. “I was thinking you might want to give those arms a workout.”
The moment the scarf was untangled from the headboard and Gus was unbound, he sat up and pulled her onto his lap. He wriggled his fingers. “I’ve got that stingy pins-and-needles feeling.”
She noticed her scent was all over him and smiled. “Some people like the tingle.”
He smoothed her hair with his fingertips before gently cupping her face. The look in his eyes was loving. “What would you like? What do you need?”
“I’d like you to reach into the nightstand drawer and find a condom. Put it on, pull me beneath you, and give me a slow, sweet ride.”
His eyes glittered. “I can do that.” He took hold of her and swiftly rolled her onto the bed beside him. Landing on her back, she sank into the bedcovers with a soft swoosh. He slid on top of her, parting her legs with his knee, and opened the drawer.
“Where are they?”
“Silver box, in the corner.”
Reaching over, he fumbled through the drawer. “Ah-ha, look what I found.” He turned and displayed a dangling pair of leather wrist cuffs lined with sheepskin and trimmed with heavy hardware. “These look sturdy enough to hold a man. If you had these handy, why did you tie me up with a scarf?”
Her face flushed hot. She didn’t want to say. It was too soon to show all her kinks. Gus was too special. She didn’t want to risk blowing it with a great guy she’d just met by letting all her black cats out of the bag the first night.
Gus allowed the cuffs to dangle above her nose. “I would love a strong woman to take charge. Don’t hold back in front of me. Next time, use the cuffs.” The moment of silence lingered. “So, is it my turn?”
A nervous flutter zipped through her. “Yes.”
“Stretch your arms above your head and grab the headboard.”
“You’re not going to... What if the Wiccan fire returns?”
“No. I won’t cuff you, not tonight, but I will ask down the road, and I hope you’ll say yes. Tonight, I want you to be comfortable and see that you can trust me. The best way to build mutual trust is to take a few risks together.”
“I think we’re already doing that.”
“Bedding a Lycan can be risky.”
“How so?”
He took hold of her wrists and pinned them to the mattress. His weight pressed against her. “We’re loyal to our mates, and we expect loyalty in return.”
“I’m a Leo. I can be loyal to the right man.”
“Lycans tend to be possessive. I’d never share you, and I wouldn’t hesitate to scare another man off.”
“Nothing vengeful or illegal?”
“Nope. Just dagger-eyes and a few chilly words if I ever sense somebody getting too close to the one I care about.”
“Is that all?”
“There’s this.” Nuzzling close, he rubbed his face against the side of her throat. The light beard stubble prickled. The edges of his teeth nipped the tender skin beneath her ear. From deep in his chest rose a low growl that gradually increased in pitch and sent a sonic cascade of thrilling vibrations through the air, leaving her paralyzed in breathless awe, covered in gooseflesh, and shivering. It was like being confronted with the most primal sound imaginable. She was shaken and excited at the same time. “Wow, what was that?”
Gus released his hold on her. “That was a Lycan call. It’s the wolf in me, and it’s never far from the surface. I don’t want to hide what I am from you.”
It seemed important to reassure him, and she looked directly into his eyes as she spoke. “You don’t have to hide it—I like it. I think it’s a turn-on.” She reached toward the drawer with straining fingers, but could only graze the edges. “Let me up a little.”
Moving aside, he propped his weight on his elbow and freed her.
Fredi grabbed a foil-wrapped condom from the drawer and tore it open with her teeth. “Why are you waiting? Take those pants off!”
In a heartbeat, he unbuttoned his fly, tugged the shredded jeans down his legs, and kicked them off. He stretched across the mattress, naked and hard. “Put it on me.”
Leaning close, she brought her fingertip to her lips and delivered a kiss to the crown, slowly swirling the pad of her finger in a lazy circle. “You’re wet.”
He smiled. “So are you.”
She rolled the condom down the shaft and gave him a firm squeeze. “This is going to feel good.”
“It already does.” He pushed the knit dress from her pale shoulder and toyed with the black bra strap. “Won’t you reconsider?”
“Maybe.” She slipped the dress lower, exposing lots of luscious cleavage and the top of one lacy cup. With a single smooth motion, she reached for the athame on the nightstand, slid the edge of the blade between her breasts, and sliced through the bra. The snug lace cups parted with a snap. One fell away revealing a rosy nipple.
“Why not?” She shrugged as she set the knife aside. “I already wrecked the panties, and they were part of a set.”
He brushed the lacy fabric and bits of black thread away and cupped her breast. Adoringly, he stroked his thumb against her nipple. “You are so beautiful.”
It felt extra naughty to be half-dressed in clingy knit fabric, yet also totally vulnerable. The hungry looks Gus shared made her feel so desirable. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, toppling onto her back. He landed on top, parting her legs with his knee. For a breathtaking moment, she felt the first brush of his sheathed cock prodding against her. “Do it.” She took hold of the shaft and guided him in. Being so wet made it easy, but he was thick enough to elicit a gasp on the initial stroke.
He grasped her thigh and lifted it higher as he sank deep. Having him moving inside was heaven. She closed her eyes and allowed her thoughts to float.
Gus brushed a soft kiss against her lips. “Let go.” He seemed to have read her mind. “I’ve got you.”
She melted beneath him, sending the silent signal she trusted him. At that moment, she was completely his. He could go fast, slow, rough, or sweet, and all of it would be good. It surprised her in the best way that giving in to a lusty Lycan felt so right. Any worries that she was sleeping too soon with a man she’d just met fled. The moment was perfect and one of those things that simply had to happen.
Moving slowly, he took his time, and each stroke was satin smooth. She sensed he was struggling to hold back, and it made every ripple of his taut muscles all the sweeter. The momentum of a runaway train built between them. He was being heroic about putting her pleasure first, and she loved him for it, but she was ready for more. Sensing he needed to come hard, now, she spread her fingers across his back and felt for those crazy little dimples above his kidneys. She pinned him firmly against her. The gesture silently staked her claim on him and gave him permission to surrender.
“Oh.” He tensed, thrust faster, and came with a lusty moan. For a few moments, he lay on top of her, trembling without drawing a breath. She held him close, loving every second of it. When he kissed her forehead, she felt the slight trace of tears in his eyes, which she found incredibly touching. Neither spoke, as time seemed to stop.
Finally, Gus rolled off her and drew her into his arms. “You felt so good. By any chance, did you cast another spell?”
She readjusted the strap of her bra. “No. I’ve been a bit busy the last few minutes.”
“I meant a few seconds ago. I sensed a strange tingle of magic. Like one of your spells.”
Her fingertips grazed his shoulders. “Magic? Should I be flattered or worried?”
With eyes wide, he stared at the ceiling without blinking. “It’s weird. Now I feel like all the energy left my body, like I got zapped. How are you doing?”
Fredi tried to answer, but yawned instead. “I think the Hoodoo Blue is—”
The thought went unfinished. Even lifting her arm to grab the sheet was too much effort. She tried to marshal her thoughts, but they drifted away. A moment later, she gave up and cuddled against Gus’s chest.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “You can let go. Just rest your eyes for a minute.” When he kissed the top of her head, he noticed her hair carried the same sunny notes as a fresh field of clover. Wishing to commit the fragrance to memory, he drew it in. Tonight was special, and he knew someday he’d be looking back fondly. As he listened to her slowing breath, he stroked her hair.
“Fredi,” he whispered. “Are you asleep?”
She snuggled against him, but didn’t answer.
“It’s okay.” He pulled a blanket over them and tried to get as comfortable as he could without waking her. Obviously, battling the weird, whirling vortex of hoodoo energy had sapped her. Her presence beside him was so warm and soft it was an honor that she trusted him enough to fall asleep against his chest.
The Moroccan-style lantern on the nightstand cast beautiful colors against the wall, but it was too much light. Without disturbing Fredi, he nearly dislocated his shoulder reaching behind himself to turn it off.
The little cottage was plunged into shadow, but as his eyes adjusted, he saw that a wide swath of cool moonlight bathed the floor. For a second, he worried he might want to bolt from the bed and roam the beach howling, but no such desire moved him. It was a pleasant surprise to realize he could look at the full moon the same way everyone else did and feel peace. It was a first.
Since his teens, he’d had a love-hate relationship with the lunar cycle. The moon was his mistress, and he was forced to follow her like a chained captive. A new moon meant freedom to go about his business as he liked, but a full moon demanded his heart and soul with no escape offered from being Lycan. Its effects were humbling. During a new moon, he could pretend to be something other than what he was and get away with it, but the full moon always drew him out into the open and proved him wrong.
A full moon had always been a time of trial that merely punctuated his loneliness, but with Fredi at his side, he now dared to hope something good had happened to him. He almost woke her to tell her about it, but stopped. So often, he acted too soon and spoke too early. It wasn’t just he who made that mistake. Jumping the gun was a typical Lycan problem. Being too familiar too soon frightened outsiders away.
He held her a little tighter, hoping this time would be different. Deep at heart, he suspected he was already in lust with her, if not full-blown love. It was true that Lycans recognized their soul mates almost immediately, but he was also aware that a woman like Fredi wouldn’t want to feel rushed. She was independent. The smartest thing to do was to keep the possessive words like mine, lover, and mate to himself until she had the chance to get used to the fact he was going to fight to keep her and planned to offer her a lifetime of love. He couldn’t help it; he was born to be a pack member, and he was ready to have his own little pack.
Tenderly, he pressed his lips against her hair and mumbled, “I know a secret.”
She didn’t respond with anything more than a fitful roll onto her elbow.
Gus adjusted the pillow behind his head. The need to sleep overwhelmed him. His eyes shut and locked. A weird, dreamlike trance drifted over him.
Within the twilight state, he saw himself sitting beside a soccer field filled with rowdy children and realized the scene was an actual memory. He was about eight years old, and, as usual, he was not playing soccer and had been sent to a bench as punishment for unintentional rough play.
His beautiful mother, Alene, walked up to him, holding a cardboard box coupled with a look of concern on her brow. “Gus, what’s wrong? Are you in time-out again?”
He nodded, reluctant to admit he’d been scolded again for intimidating the other children, many of whom were not Lycan. The terrible part was he wasn’t even aware he’d done anything intimidating. He was just playing and being himself. He’d actually been having fun when a whistle was blown, the game was stopped, and he was pushed to the sidelines.
Alene put her hand on his shoulder. “The coach called me. That’s why I’m here.”
A sick feeling settled in his stomach. Coach Sven was Lycan, too, and a man he admired. “Am I in trouble?”
“Not with me.” Her smile warmed his chilly mood. “You have to remember you’re so much bigger than the other boys. They’re a little scared of you already, but when you bare your teeth and snap, they’re really startled. Remember, we like to keep a low profile in the community. There’s not that many of us, and being Lycan isn’t exactly socially acceptable yet. You’re going to have to learn to blend in. What’s okay in the pack might frighten or confuse outsiders. Do you understand?”
“Are outsiders always going to be afraid of me?”
“No, sweetie, you have such a good heart. But you’ll have to learn to give people a chance to get to know you before you let the Lycan out.”
“How am I going to do that? I’m never going to have any friends.”
“That’s not true.” She handed over the box. “Look inside.”
He opened the box and saw a huddled and absolutely terrified kitten with matted gray fur.
“We found the little one behind a shed this morning at my work. It took forever to catch the poor kitty, and I was on my way to a shelter when Coach Sven called. During the drive, it occurred to me that you might want this little cat as a pet.”
Cautiously, he gazed into the box. The kitten hissed. “I want him, but I don’t think he wants me.”
“He’s a her.” She laughed. “I think it will be good for you to befriend this kitten and learn to tone down the Lycan at will. My guess is that if you can win over this frightened kitten, you’ll be able to get along with almost anyone you meet.”
“Really?”
“Be gentle and give the kitten a chance to come to you.”
As if in slow motion, he reached into the box. “Like this?”
“Yes. Now, wait.”
What felt like an eternity passed. Nothing happened. He whispered, “I’m not going to hurt you.”
The kitten inched closer to his hand and he dared to pet it. The kitten rubbed against his fingers and stayed put. “She let me pet her!” he gasped in awe.
Alene beamed. “Do you want to keep her?”
“Oh, yeah, we’re going to be friends!”