by L. P. Dover
“How long did it take you to design your place?” I ask.
Colin gets out and grabs his bag from the back of my Jeep, slinging it over his shoulders. Stopping at the passenger’s side door, he leans in on his elbows, giving me that smirk of his. “A couple of weeks. I got lucky with the weather, so the builders were able to get it built in four months.” He nods toward it. “Want to take a look inside?”
I shake my head. “No, that’s okay. I’m ready to get to Amelie’s.”
He holds up his hands. “All right, I get it. We’re back to square one. At least, now that I made it safely back home, I don’t have to worry about you leaving me on the side of the road.”
“I’m honestly shocked you didn’t give me a reason to.”
His eyes flash with mischief. “Believe me. I wanted to say things. Do you think you’ll have some free time while you’re here?”
“Why?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe we could do something together? I know you hate me and all, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”
“Sorry,” I say, sliding my gear into reverse. “Friends like each other. I don’t see that happening with us.”
His grin widens. “So, it’s a no then?”
“I’m sure you’ll get along without me.”
He steps away from my Jeep. “I don’t know about that. I’ll see you later, Kamille.”
I should’ve known he’d go right back to annoying me. There’s a sexual undertone to the way he says my name, like it’s the way he’d say it if we were in bed together. I force the thought from my mind. It’s the last thing I need to think about.
“Goodbye, Colin,” I say, backing away from him. As soon as I’m out of his driveway, I breathe a sigh of relief. Something tells me I’ll be seeing a lot of him over the next eight weeks.
7
Colin
I saw a breakthrough with Kami today, even if it was fleeting. There was a moment when she didn’t hate me; she listened to what I said, and the sad but understanding look on her face when I told her about my past was genuine. I never meant for Kami to see that side of me. Being close to her fucks with my head. Maybe it’s because in my dreams we’re always together. I’ve kissed her, touched her, and made love to her as if she was mine. That’s why I stayed in Montana the past week. I couldn’t bring myself to leave after the party. I used the excuse I had clients to see, but it wasn’t the case at all. With her coming to Wyoming, I saw my chance to be alone with her.
Once inside the house, I toss my bag onto the living room floor and pull out my cell. I scroll through my contacts and press on Zayne’s number. He’s left me several messages today about work, but I didn’t want to answer them while I was with Kami.
He huffs when he answers the phone. “It’s about damn time you call me back.”
Zayne Lyall is a royal arctic, and when I was younger, he was my protector. When the Royal pack was ambushed, he took me away to safety while the other Lyall brothers protected my sisters. Zayne schooled me through the years and sent me to college to become an architect like him. Now we have our own business with clients all over the country.
“I just got home from Montana. What’s up?”
“Your client list is getting longer by the minute. They know it will take a while to get an appointment, but it’d be nice to give them an idea of when. I emailed you everything.”
“All right, let me get on my computer.” After I walk into my office, I turn on my laptop to look at my calendar and his email.
Spending the past week in Montana did put me behind, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. If he only knew what I did with my time, he’d think I lost my fucking mind. Hell, I think I have. Kami would never speak to me again if she knew my secret. Every night I was in Montana, I kept watch over her house, concealing my presence so she wouldn’t sense me. I feel like a fucking stalker, but my wolf wouldn’t have it any other way. He needed to be close to her. Some would say that could mean she was my mate, but I don’t see how. She doesn’t want to be anywhere near me.
Once my calendar loads, I open my email from him. There are over fifty people on the list, their locations ranging from California to New York. With a heavy sigh, I close my eyes. “I’ll get them scheduled. If I can get Chase to lend me his jet and pilot, I’ll get these appointments in quick.”
“You don’t have to do it on your own. I finished up a couple of designs today, so I’m free to take on more. What we can do is group them by location and knock them out together. I don’t want to be gone from Wyoming for too long.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, wondering what’s going on with him. Zayne mostly keeps his emotions to himself, but I can sense a hint of impatience in his tone.
He blows out a breath. “Let’s just say I have my reasons.”
I’ve learned never to ask him questions. If he wants me to know something, he’ll tell me. We say our goodbyes, and I spend the next few hours working on my schedule. I don’t want to be gone from Wyoming either, especially now that Kami’s in town. I wish I knew what the fuck was going on with me. If she’s not my mate, then I need to back off. The problem is that I can’t. Being around her the past week has only made me want her more. Unfortunately, the dreams I have with her don’t make things any easier.
With the sun gone and the full moon rising, it’s time to take a run. The rest of the pack will be out in the woods, but I prefer to go on my own. I already know where Amelie and Kami will go. I walk outside to the back patio and take off my clothes. The magic of the moon is strong, and I hold out my arms, letting it take over me. It spreads all around me, and my wolf takes over. Amelie’s house is about two miles west through the woods, so I take off in that direction, making sure to keep my energy hidden. It’s one thing that makes a royal lethal; we can sneak up on our enemies. Tonight, however, I’m not using it for that. I don’t want to know what Kami would do if she knew I was watching her. Then again, I don’t think she can hate me any more than she already does.
When I get to Amelie’s house, I can hear her and Kami talking inside toward the back of the house. A door slams, and the next thing I see are two gray wolves disappearing through the trees. I follow behind them, keeping to the darkness. I’ve never seen Kami as her wolf, but I know which one she is. Amelie’s fur is darker down her back, and she has a dark patch around her right eye. Kami looks entirely different. Her coat is lighter than Amelie’s on the body, but Kami’s face and ears are darker, giving her a more intimidating look. It fits her personality.
It doesn’t take long for them to arrive at the lake. I stay hidden within the trees and watch them by the water. Kami shifts into her human form first and jumps in, disappearing underneath the lake’s depths. My fingers ache to touch her skin and feel her warmth. The moonlight shimmers on the surface, and when Kami lifts her head out of the water, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more beautiful than her. Amelie joins her, and they swim further out into the water.
I thought I was alone until I feel someone behind me. I don’t even have to look to recognize Zayne’s power. He comes up next to me in his white wolf form, but he keeps his eyes on Kami and Amelie. With the women being so far away in the water, I shift.
“I figured you’d be out by yourself tonight,” I say to him.
He looks up at me with his wolf eyes, and then magic swirls all around him, turning him into his human form. Zayne’s been around for almost two hundred years, but he looks the same age as me, and I’m twenty-seven. We both have the whitish-blond hair of an arctic and bright blue eyes.
Zayne leans up against a tree and sighs. “I was, but I always seem to find myself coming to this spot.” His curious gaze turns to me. “What I want to know is why are you here spying on Amelie and Kami?”
Huffing, I throw my arms up in the air and keep my voice low. “Fuck if I know. I can’t explain it, but I have this feeling I can’t shake. I’ve just had this unbearable need to be close to Kami.”
Z
ayne looks toward the lake, and he watches Amelie emerge from the water. “She could be your mate.”
“This is different,” I explain. “I’ve heard what that feels like, and this isn’t it. It’s strong whatever it is.”
Zayne nods. “Trust me. I know the feeling.” I’m beginning to think something is going on he hasn’t told me about. I’ve never seen him look at a female the way he looks at Amelie.
Everyone I’ve spoken to about finding their mates end up saying the same thing. It’s like an electric current that jolts through your body when you connect with your mate, whether it be a simple touch of the hand or a kiss. I’ve found ways to touch Kami on numerous occasions, but we’ve never experienced anything like that.
Kami and Amelie shift back into their wolves and run off through the forest. Zayne and I do the same and follow them to Amelie’s house. I’m starting to get the feeling he’s done this run a million times. When the women are safely inside the house, I close my eyes and concentrate on their voices.
“Are you excited about tomorrow?” Amelie asks.
Kami sighs. “Very much so. I should probably get some sleep though. It’s going to be a busy day.”
Amelie giggles. “You’ll do fine. If humans can get through FBI training, then I know it’ll be a piece of cake for you.”
Kami laughs. “True. I don’t know what I’m so worried about. I want to be the best, but I don’t want to draw attention to myself.”
“That’s why you tone it down every now and again,” Amelie advises. “But not too much. The FBI needs a kick-ass female in their ranks. Reed said it himself; there’s not many who pass this special training.”
“I will pass,” Kami says with conviction. She’s determined, and I admire that about her. “All right, Amelie, I’m heading to bed. I leave at six in the morning. If I don’t see you then, I’ll catch you tomorrow afternoon.” They say their goodnights, and I can hear Kami’s footsteps as she walks up the hardwood stairs to her bedroom.
Opening my eyes, I turn to Zayne and shift back to my human form, but he stays as he is. When I glance at the house, I can see Amelie in the living room, sitting on the couch with a book in her hands. I want to ask him about her, but I don’t.
“Are you going to stay here all night?”
His wolf eyes turn to me, and he nods.
“Okay,” I say, peering over at Amelie and then back to him. “Keep them both safe.”
I want to stay, but I know Kami and Amelie are in good hands. Besides, I have a dream waiting for me tonight.
When I get home, I take a shower and climb into bed. Ever since I started having dreams of Kami, I’ve been addicted to them. I know once I close my eyes, she’ll be there in them. I lay my head on the pillow and take in a few breaths, letting them out slowly. The dreams aren’t like normal ones. In mine, it’s as if I’m in a real place. Everything is vivid, and when I touch things, I feel them. When I breathe, I smell all the scents around me. My mind begins to drift, and I welcome the darkness until everything becomes light. That’s when I know I’m there.
I’m in the forest, and when I cross the bridge over the creek, I can hear the roaring of a waterfall. When I see it come into view, I recognize it immediately. Hidden Falls. I’ve hiked to it a dozen times since I’ve been in Wyoming. When the snow begins to melt and make its way down the mountain, the waterfall roars. It’s one of my favorite places to hike. Just at its base and lying on the grass is Kami, clad in only a pink bikini with her hands behind her head, smiling up at the sky. I can already feel the need rising inside of me. Some nights, our dreams go by quickly where I only get a few minutes with her. Then, there are times when we’re not alone. Once Faith and Tate were around, but they didn’t see us; we saw them. I remember Kami being surprised when they appeared. None of it made sense to me, just like these dreams. It doesn’t matter what I do. I can never escape them. I keep waiting for something to change, for Kami to be able to see and hear me. The second she can, the spell will break.
I take a step closer. “Kami!” She doesn’t acknowledge I’m there, but I know she can’t see me yet. “Kami!” I call out again—still, nothing.
Slowly, I step toward her, and she looks up, squinting against the sun. All she does is smile and pat the ground next to her. “There you are. Lay down with me?”
“I seriously wonder what you see when you look at me,” I say to her. Knowing my luck, she probably sees someone like Chris Hemsworth. Maybe it’s my consciousness tormenting me with that fact. It’s showing me what I can never have. Or it could easily be the opposite. If Kami knew who I was, she’d never let me touch her. Either way, it makes my dreams pretty fucked up. I indulge in everything she offers me, knowing she loathes me. Guess it doesn’t matter since it’s just dreams. I lie down beside her and lift her hand to my lips. She shivers when I kiss it, and it makes me smile. “If only you’d react that way in real life when I touch you,” I murmur, my lips touching her skin. “If I tried to kiss your hand, you’d punch the shit out of me.”
Looking over at her, all she does is smile. “I’m curious to know what you just said.” Her eyes search over my face like she’s trying to concentrate on my eyes.
“Of all the places you chose to come to, you picked my one favorite place. I’ll have to ask you if you’ve been here the next time I see you,” I say. A few minutes pass, and all I can do is stare at her. I kiss her hand again and lean up on my elbow. “You start your FBI training tomorrow.” I trace a finger down her cheek to her neck, loving the softness of her skin. “I know you’re going to do amazing. I wish I could be there to see you kick ass.”
One thing about my dreams is that I’m not afraid to say what’s on my mind. If Kami knew how much I’ve let her in, she probably wouldn’t despise me so much. She’d see I’m not a bad guy.
Kami takes in a deep breath and moans as I trace circles over her bare skin. “That feels amazing. I’m glad you’re here. Usually, I try to be strong about things, but I’m nervous as hell about tomorrow. I know I can pass the physical part of FBI training, but I don’t know what all else it entails, especially the top-secret part. I won’t find out about that until after I pass all the tests.”
This has me intrigued. I’ve always wondered about the government and what kinds of secrets they have. When I found out Kami wanted to join the FBI, it shocked me. I know she’ll make one hell of an agent.
Grinning, I stare down at Kami. “Top secret, huh? What kind of secrets are you keeping from everyone, Kamille?” Luckily, I have ways of finding out.
8
Kami
I need to learn how to read lips by touching them. I’d love to know all the things he’s said to me the past couple of months. Some would say it’s strange to get turned on by someone you can’t see, but I can’t help but love the way my mate touches me. So soft and gentle. What sucks is that it’s just dreams, crazy as they may be.
Closing my eyes, I breathe in the scents all around me as my mate slides his finger down my neck to the tops of my breasts. “I don’t know where this place is or if it’s real, but I hope to find it one day. Maybe you’ll know where it is when I find out who you are.”
It feels good to talk to him even though I’ll never be able to hear his replies. His lips touch mine, and I keep my eyes closed as I open up to him, relishing in the feel of his body hovering over mine. I try to envision what he looks like with my eyes shut, but it blurs when I get an image in my head. I don’t understand it. All I want is to see him.
I slide my hands up his bare chest and over his muscular arms, smiling when they flex. Touching him is the only way I can see him. For the most part, his cheeks have always been smooth, but today there’s a hint of stubble. I cup my hands on his cheeks and brush my thumbs over his lips. He smiles and kisses my fingers.
“Is it bad I want you to make love to me again?”
Feeling his cheeks rise, he rolls on top of me, his chest vibrating with laughter. I’d give anything to hear his laugh. He ki
sses my neck and slides his lips down to my chest. My body trembles as he unties my top and slowly lifts the fabric from my breasts. The second his mouth closes over a nipple, I arch my back and moan as he sucks it firmly. Everything in my body tightens with need. He pushes his hardness into my center and rolls his hips into mine. Reaching down between our bodies, I unbutton his shorts, and he kicks them off, still ravishing my breasts. I could easily orgasm this way. That’s how intense my body reacts to his.
His fingers move down to the ties that hold my bikini bottoms on, and I help him by untying one side while he does the other. I need to feel him inside of me. He positions himself at my opening and slowly pushes, inch by inch, until he’s entirely in. I wrap my legs around his waist, holding him tight while our bodies move as one. His thrusts grow more urgent, the passion between us driving me so close to the edge that I can barely catch my breath.
Taking my face in his hands, he kisses me feverishly, sliding his lips down to my neck. I want to open my eyes and stare into his as my orgasm takes me, but I know all I’ll see is a blur. I can feel my release build, and I squeeze my legs tighter around him. He thrusts faster and faster, and I’m about to scream out my release when I feel his teeth sink into my neck …
My eyes flash open, and I suck in a breath. Everything becomes clear. The man who is my mate is no longer a blurry haze. His eyes widen when I stare up into his crystal blue ones, the same ones I’ve looked into more times than I can count.
Closing my eyes, I squeeze them shut. “This can’t be happening. Wake up, Kami. Wake up!”
Gasping, I jolt out of bed covered in sweat and grab my neck. I rush into the bathroom and turn on the light, scared at what I’ll see. He’s never bitten me before, but it felt so real. And what’s worse is who it came from. There’s no mark on my skin when I look in the mirror, but it could’ve already healed. Biting and sharing blood between mates is sacred. It opens a link between them, allowing them to hear each other’s thoughts. With it being just a dream, does it mean he’ll be able to listen to my thoughts now? I didn’t take his blood which means it’ll be a one-way connection. My mind will be open to his. Please don’t let it be so.
