Stranded with a Cajun Werewolf

by Selena Blake

  “Really?” She took another bite of the apple, tasted the sweetness on her tongue and decided the flavor was too real for this to all be a dream.

  Maybe a daydream. No one ever agreed with her.

  She was either wearing too much lipstick, again, or why couldn't she be more agreeable and just eat meat like everyone else?

  “Sometimes you need time away. To spread your wings. Sometimes family does not know best.” He spoke as if he had experience. Then he glanced down at her empty bowl. “Can I make you more oatmeal?”

  His words washed away all the tension, fear, and frustration that had battered her for the last few months. So, there was a gentleman left on this planet. And on the upside, he was big, hunky and drool-worthy. She smiled. “How can I refuse an offer like that?” Chapter Five

  Burke wasn't sure what to make of Kendall. She gobbled down the second bowl of oatmeal as quickly as the first. It was almost as if she hadn't eaten in a week...or had the appetite of a werewolf. Which wasn't possible because he would have scented that long before now. And he'd never met a shewolf who hadn't flung herself at his feet like a bitch in heat.

  Except for Juliette.

  She was a rare breed. Cultured. Poised. And very much mated.

  But nevertheless, there was something not quite human about Kendall. Something untamed and raw while at the same time young, innocent and refreshing. A walking, talking contradiction if he'd ever met one.

  Her spoon dropped into the bowl with a clang and she rubbed a hand over her stomach. The annoying little voice in the back of his mind that couldn't leave well enough alone whispered that she was a woman after his own heart. But he mentally sneered. What did he know about her?

  Aside from the fact that she had a sense of humor, a penchant for lip gloss, and didn't want to be tied down. That in itself should have made him breathe easier, but as the generator cut out and the electronics around them went silent, he found himself studying her startled expression and once again feeling that urge to protect her.

  But hadn't he come here because he wanted time away from responsibility? He should have been out skiing the slopes instead of watching the snow pile higher outside the window.

  “Good?”

  “Really good. With those bozos on my tail I haven't had time for a decent meal in, like, a week.” She leaned against the polished stone counter, a smile of bliss curving her lips.

  Tail?

  “So what will you do now?”

  The second the question was out of his mouth he wanted to bite it back. Kendall went from smiling serenely to stiff backed and nervous in the blink of an eye.

  He was such a jerk. There was no need for her to worry about anything right now.

  Oh, wasn't there? According to Kendall, there was a band of angry goons after her, a man who wanted her for his bride, and thanks to a well aimed tree, she had no car to help her escape.“I—I don't know--”

  It wasn't his responsibility to look after her. It wasn't as if she were his kid sister.

  Kid sister, the voice taunted. No chance in hell of that. You do not feel a sisterly attraction to her at all.

  I don't feel any attraction to her.

  Yeah, tell it to someone who believes you.

  How pathetic was this? Now he was talking to himself. Mentally. He was mental.

  “No need to worry about that now. And I don’t think those bums will find their way up the mountain any time soon even if they did know where to look.” She seemed to relax a fraction. “We should probably head back to the bedroom and keep the fire going.” Kendall paused mid step. He quickly retraced his words and grimaced. “I mean...without power-- you cold?”

  She nodded. “A little.”

  Damn, she'd probably thought he was coming on to her. He honestly wished he could say he wasn't. But his subconscious probably was. Or his wolf, rather.

  She followed him from the kitchen. “You must think I'm the stupidest woman alive,” she said a few moments later. He looked up from where he was putting another log on the fire and met her gaze. She sank onto the bed, the fluffy red blanket wrapped around her like a coat, and stared out the window.

  If she'd been Annabelle she would have been fishing for a compliment, or comfort. But as he watched Kendall, he could see the only thing she was searching for was a way out of here, and a way out of the predicament she was in. She seemed to be mentally tabulating something and then she glanced over at the chair where her purse sat.

  He followed her gaze. It was all she had left he supposed. Everything was starting to make sense to him: her lack of warm clothes, her rampage up the mountain, her breathless plea when they’d first met... She must’ve felt she was out of options and decided to make a run for it with the clothes on her back and whatever had been in her purse at the time.

  Brave, that.

  Perhaps a little foolish, but sometimes you had to do what you had to do.

  “You know, there are places you could go where he'd never find you.” Why the hell had he said that? Why was he getting in the middle of it? It was none of his business.

  She gave a bitter laugh. He didn't like the sound of it. She should be smiling, laughing happily, sharing herself with someone, not running scared. Not that any of it should matter to him.

  It didn't. Not one little bit.

  When'd you become a liar, Deveraux? The little voice asked.

  “Oh yeah? Where's that?”

  He shrugged. “A big city. Blend in with the masses. New Orleans is as good a place as any.” “Ever been there?”

  He gave a quick, jerky nod. He'd practically lived there for the last...no, he didn't want to count how many years. That would inevitably lead to counting the years since Annabelle's betrayal and fuck, if that wasn't a bitter pill to swallow.

  Vacation, he had to remember he was on vacation.

  When aren't you on vacation? Okay...that was enough. He had to turn that voice off.

  Annoying little son-of-a...

  “I haven't. Never been outside of Florida. At least not until this past month. Momma always said there was a great big world out there.” She sounded wistful.

  “Why didn’t you travel?”

  “My father would never have allowed it.” She got up and went to her purse. Opening it wide she gazed inside and he could have sworn he saw the tiniest of smiles. One of those little smiles that made him happy, one he’d like to see again and again.

  Time to get out, while the getting' was good. He poked the fire again, shoved the logs to the back and added two more. When he stood up Kendall was slathering gloss across her lips.

  He could smell the fruity scent from here.

  “I should go. You need to rest. Fire should keep you warm. When it burns down, come find me and I'll stoke it again.” She lifted those aqua eyes to his.

  “You don't have to--”

  “It's okay. I should...”

  He headed for the door and as his hand closed over the knob he halted. He didn't turn around. “For the record, I don't think you're stupid. A stupid woman would have stayed in a bad situation telling herself it was her fault that her spouse was an abusive asshole.” He glanced over his shoulder. “A smart woman knows when to run. Sometimes that's your only option. The best option.”

  Kendall’s eyes misted as she watched the door close behind Burke. It took considerable willpower to watch Burke walk out the door and not tackle him with a bear hug. Though she'd be willing to bet her favorite Berry Cherry ultra gloss that Burke Deveraux had never run from anything in his life, his words calmed her. Reinforced her decision to run. He was right.

  She wasn't stupid.

  Stupid was staying in an impossible situation without finding a way out, without fighting for what you believed in. She'd made her decision. She'd stick with it and keep running. Life on the run, living on junk food was better than being mated to a slimeball like Carl. Or, with a family that thought of her as a freak.

  Or, a father that would use her as collateral in a p
oker game.

  But she was so tired of running. So tired... Kendall's eyelids drooped. It would be so easy to just settle back onto the pillows and drift off to sleep.

  Burke managed to ignore the sleeping beauty in his bed for most of the afternoon. He’d finished not one, but two, books on his list. Speed-reading had its advantages.

  At lunchtime he’d poked his head into the bedroom and found her clutching his pillow for dear life. The visual had taken its toll on his state of mind since then. Mostly because there was a beautiful, half naked woman in his bed who needed comforting. But also because he knew he’d never be able to get her scent out of his bed linens.

  The Fates certainly had a warped sense of humor, sending a beautiful human into his life. He dragged his hand down his face and reread the last paragraph. The problem, of course, with speed-reading was you had to pay closer attention or soon you were five pages along and had no clue what was going on.

  A minute later Burke closed his third book of the day and glanced out the window at the mountain range beyond. A cloud hung in the sky over Mt. Washington. He was counting the minutes until he could hit the slopes, feel the wind rushing by him as the conquered the mountain beneath him.

  Years ago there’d been talk about him going pro. He was just too good to be a recreational skier the sponsors had said. But Burke didn’t want that level of scrutiny. He’d never gotten off on seeing his picture on the cover of magazines. And Deveraux shipping had paid better.

  Not that the money was important. Not in the scheme of things. He’d have gladly given up his fortune for a chance at a happy, whole life. A life with a mate. Kids.

  Settling back onto the sofa, he closed his eyes and let himself daydream. It was there that he saw her. A vexing blue-eyed blonde holding a darling little aqua eyed girl. And next to them was a boy, almost hip-high with Burke’s dark hair and those same startling blue eyes.

  The three of them were giggling. Then they smiled…at him.

  What were the chances…

  Burke recoiled from the horror on Annabelle's beautiful face. Her eyes were wide with terror, her mouth hung open in disbelief, and then her nose...her cute button nose crinkled in disgust. He didn't even bother to shift back to his human self.

  What was there left to say?

  She'd seen what he was. He'd showed his true self to her. With his heart breaking, he pivoted on his haunches and galloped into the forest.

  The damp earth squished between his toes, the scent of spring ripe around him. But it might as well have been a bitter cold winter’s day, snowing heavily. Gray and desolate.

  He never should have shown himself to her. His brother would call him a fool, and Burke wouldn't be able to deny it. Slowing, he glanced at the place he'd called home all his life. Laurent sat atop the stone wall that circled the stately manor house, a book in his lap.

  Their gazes met and locked. Without words, Laurent knew. Burke could see it in his eyes.

  You showed her, didn't you, you crazy fool?

  Burke laid at his brother's feet, huffing out an agonized breath. Damn, it hurt to inhale. Was it possible for a heart to physically crack?

  There was nothing to be said. No hope left for him. He'd thought Annabelle had been the one for him. His woman. She'd looked at him with stars in her eyes.

  She was gone. Darkness closed in around him.

  Her screams echoed in his ears. They sounded so close, and yet, muffled.

  Burke came awake with a start. Kendall.

  He dropped his feet over the edge of the sofa, his joints protesting the quick movement.

  She lay on her right side, her face a study in pain and torment. Stuffing from the pillow in her death grip lay scattered around her.

  “No!” Her hoarse cry reverberated off the polished wooden walls, filling his soul with fury. And in that same instant he lost the battle with himself and went to her, sinking down onto the edge of the bed.

  “Kendall…Wake up, chéri.” He didn’t touch her, afraid he’d startle her. She came awake at the sound of his voice and her face relaxed. But then, as if driven by the fear that still held her in its grasp, she launched herself into his arms, chest against chest, hip against hip. Her arms circled his shoulders and she held on to him with a strength that belied her stature and yesterday’s accident.

  Having had nightmares of his own for more years than he wished to count, he didn’t need to ask her what was wrong. There was nothing like being haunted night after night by a past terror you couldn’t change. And in all his years, he’d found no way to rid himself of them.

  She trembled against him and he wondered if she was scared or crying. Either way the wolf inside him wanted revenge against those who’d wronged her. That possessiveness, one he hadn’t felt in centuries, scared him.

  This was temporary. She was temporary. Just until the storm cleared and she could be on her way. But if he caught up with the bastards after her…

  “I’m sorry,” she murmured, pulling back ever so slightly. He kept his hands on her back, hoping his embrace felt reassuring rather than lecherous.

  “Don’t be.”

  Untangle yourself and get outta her bed, wolf.

  But he couldn’t, not when her fingers still clutched his shirt like he was the only thing anchoring her in this storm.

  “How’s your shoulder?” he asked, hoping a change of subject would lighten the mood.

  “It aches, but I’m managing.” She lifted tear filled eyes to his. So blue. So vivid. “Thanks to you.”Unable to tear his gaze away, he simply stared down at her. Frozen for the moment.

  He’d never seen eyes like that before. Probably wouldn’t ever again. Like aqua lasers, they were just one more thing that made Kendall unique.

  That was a dangerous train of thought. He couldn’t be thinking about her in terms of her uniqueness or how lovely her eyes were or how adorable her nose was.

  No siree… The air pressure around them shifted. He turned toward the patio door, surveying the landscape beyond, his senses on high alert. Everything looked still in the twilight.

  But then a loud crack echoed across the mountain.

  Her fingers clutched him tighter. “What was that?” The ground began trembling, along with the wooden boards beneath his feet.

  “Avalanche.” He held out his hand to her. “Come on.”

  “Avalanche?” she cried.

  Without a moment to lose he led the way to the center of the house, pulled her inside the windowless pantry and shut the door. The roaring increased in volume and the floor shook beneath their feet.

  “Oh my God,” she murmured over and over.

  “It’s all right, chéri.”

  “All right?” Her voice was shrill. “Being buried alive is not all right.”

  “It’s probably further down the mountain.” But he didn’t want to take any chances. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, holding her still. She continued mumbling into his chest. With a mountain of snow coming apart around them, he shouldn’t have found the situation endearing.

  But it was impossible not to. And the way her fingers plucked at his sweater…it’d be so easy to duck his head and kiss them both into oblivion. In the darkness he saw her tip her head back. She stared up, eyes wild as the earth continued to shift and buck.

  “I should have mentioned…I’m claustrophobic,” she said quickly.

  “It’ll be over soon,” he murmured. Too soon.

  He slid a hand up her side, over the curve of her breast and cupped her cheek.

  Don’t do it Deveraux. If you do, there’s no going back.

  He dipped his head and captured her luscious mouth.

  No going back…

  For half a second, she was utterly still. Then, as if awakening from a nap, she kissed him back. Leaning against the door, he explored her slowly. Softly at first, then more firmly.

  She moaned, her head tipping back ever so slightly. He closed the distance, thrusting his tongue between her parted
lips. She sucked him into her mouth and his cock went rigid.

  He tightened his hold on her, not wanting any of this to end. Ever. She trembled anew and her hands tightened around his waist. Then she rose up on her tip toes, kissing him with so much passion he had to be imagining it.

  She whispered his name against his mouth and shifted her hips against his. Surely she felt his cock, hard as a damn pipe, between them. But he wouldn’t make excuses for the way she turned him on. Or how he wanted to kiss every inch of her. He was so tempted to turn her against the door, bracketing her with his body, so he could continue his exploration.

  Almost as if she’d read his mind, she trembled. But it was more than that. She was shivering. It was cold in here.

  That’s when he noticed that the only sound he heard was their own ragged breaths. No avalanche. No quaking floorboards.

  “Burke?” She said his name so sweetly, so innocently, he ducked his head again and brushed his lips across hers.

  “It’s okay, chéri. It’s over.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t sound as thrilled as she should have, now that they’d escaped being bulldozed by a stampede of snow.

  He maneuvered them away from the door and then opened it. “Let’s get you back where it’s warm.”

  She nodded wordlessly.

  When she was tucked back in his bed and he’d thrown another log on the fire, he turned back to her.

  “Can I get you anything? Hot chocolate?”

  She trembled again. “Will you—“ She licked her lips. Well kissed lips. He couldn’t stop staring at them. And now that he knew how wonderful she tasted, how perfectly she responded to him, he would be dreaming of her for a long time to come. “Would you mind staying with me?”

  Don’t do it. Not a good idea, Deveraux. But the anguish in her eyes had him saying

  “sure.”He paused, trying to decide where he should sit. He missed his bed but that would only lead to thoughts he shouldn’t…couldn’t be thinking. She pulled the thick red throw up around her shoulders and then settled back ever so slowly against the pillows.