As the morning went on, the area around her filled up with all manner of people, most of which were decidedly human. She wasn’t judging or anything, but one rarely saw an out of shape shifter. Their bodies worked so efficiently that it was nearly impossible to put on unnecessary weight; it took so much muscle to control a shift that body building or working out wasn’t necessary to remain toned and fit.
Jessie soaked up the sun like a lizard, alternating from back to front. When she grew too hot, she’d take a dip in the ocean to cool off. By noon, though, she sought out the shade of the umbrella and people-watched.
Humans had always fascinated her, and not always in a good way. There didn’t seem to be any happy medium where they were concerned. They were either skinny as sticks or as broad as a barn. Completely hairy or shaved smooth.
In some ways, though, their general behavior was similar to shifters. The males tended to be arrogant, blatantly eyeballing the females. The women strutted their stuff, trying to catch the attention of the males. The primary difference was that shifters were so much better at it.
Oh, she’d seen quite a few guys ogling her, sensed the daggers the women were shooting her way. None that she cared about, though. Jessie knew she looked good, toned and curved in her white bikini. Too bad she didn’t see any males worth her time, or any females capable of being a worthy opponent. She wouldn’t mind a distraction and a chance to work off a little excess energy.
That, too, grew boring after a while, so Jessie settled back and pulled out her eReader. She tried to catch the attention of the beach bar waitress as she sashayed her skinny butt through the throngs of people. It wasn’t likely she’d be successful, though. The bronzed, bikini-clad server with the matching fluorescent hip-wrap only seemed to cater to the larger groups, the ones with a fair amount of older men.
Jessie sighed and pulled out another bottle of water instead. She didn’t blame the waitress. Who wouldn’t want to be appreciated and go for the best tips? But damn it, she would flag her down anyway, because she would drink an icy, fruity, alcoholic concoction on the beach this week.
The cold splash of water along her ankles startled her awake. The tide was coming in and had reached her little haven. She squealed and shot to her feet. eReader clutched to her chest protectively, she scrambled around, trying to collect her belongings while the people around her -—those who had obviously seen the tide coming in and had already moved -—watched with obvious amusement. Odious people, all of them.
“Would you like some help?”
The deep voice was unexpected. The bronzed god who spoke them, even more so. Suddenly frozen and struck dumb, she simply nodded. He grinned, and she felt it all the way down where smiles were meant to be felt.
Muscles rippled as he smoothly plucked the umbrella from the sand and picked up her chair while she gathered her bag and towels.
“I can set these up farther back,” he said, and she felt like floating on his voice. Deep and rich and smooth, it made her want to rub herself all over him. “Where would you like me to put the goods?”
In me, her girlie parts screamed. He couldn’t have heard them of course, but the blush rose in her cheeks anyway. “Uh, I think I’m done for the day.”
Was that a flash of disappointment in his face? No, that would be ridiculous. “All right. I’ll carry them up for you then.”
“I think they come and get that stuff at the end of the day.”
He shrugged. It was beautiful, the way his neck and shoulders and chest and arms all flowed with that simple movement. “No problem. Two less they have to collect, right?”
“Right.” She tried to smile, but it felt awkward. She felt awkward. It was a novel thing for her.
It took a moment for her to realize that he’d already begun moving again. She trailed along behind, wishing there was some way to look graceful while walking in loose, dry sand. It was a skill she had yet to acquire, like walking in stilettos. Of course, he made it look easy.
Apparently she wasn’t the only one who found him attractive. The young girl who manned the hotel’s beach rental area practically had cartoon stars popping out of her eyes and a big tongue rolling out at his approach.
He propped the umbrella and chair against the big storage boxes, then turned around and grinned at her. Once again, she was stricken.
“Uh, thanks,” she said lamely.
The grin widened. Was he mocking her for being so pathetic? God, please don’t let him be mocking her.
“You’re welcome. Next time, pick a book that’s not so boring you fall asleep. A good erotic romance, perhaps.”
He winked, and then he was gone.
She stood there for a good long minute, watching him walk away. The view from behind was every bit as lovely as the view from the front. She wasn’t the only one, either. Female heads turned in interest like a rippling wave, following his progress.
Even the sixteen-year old sighed. Yeah. Jessie knew exactly how she felt.
At that moment, Jessie was really glad she had her amulet. If she had the ability to transform into her wolf, she would probably have gone down on all fours right there and then, and lifted her ass to him in a blatant invitation to mount.
Jessie froze at that thought. Because the only male capable of making her feel that way was an Alpha wolf.
Heart beating like a heavy bass in her chest, she went back to her room in a panic. No, she had to be mistaken. He was just an incredibly muscular, good looking human guy, that’s all. It did happen sometimes.
But in her heart, she knew that wasn’t true. Six-foot-four, a body of ripped, muscular perfection. Golden hair that was long enough to just touch the collar of his shirt, had he been wearing one. Glowing amber (amber!) eyes. Smooth, bronzed skin, utterly lickable. Large, strong hands. Jeesh! Jessie shivered, though her body felt like it was about to go up in flames.
While it was possible for a human to have those physical characteristics, it wasn’t likely. It was her reaction to him that clinched it, though. The nearly overwhelming, instinctive need to submit. While she might have found a few human males attractive over the years, she’d never wanted to submit to any of them. She was always the aggressor. The only thing that could override that was a true Alpha.
Jessie dumped her things by the door, then headed right for the shower. Once under the cold spray, she removed her bikini and scrubbed it with the complimentary body wash. The bottom part, at least, had been noticeably damp within seconds of his timely arrival. If he really was an Alpha, he’d be able to pick up her scent again easily.
Satisfied that her suit was as clean as she could get it, she wrung it out and draped it over the shower bar, then proceeded to wash away the salt and sand from her skin. It didn’t help that every time she closed her eyes, the male’s image popped into her head. She forced herself to remain under the chilling spray until her finger tips were wrinkly and she was shivering. It was worth it, though. At least it dampened some of the rampant lust.
Jessie wrapped one towel around her hair and used another to dry her body. The amulet winked at her in the huge mirror over the sink. Once again she thanked God that she’d been wearing that! If she hadn’t, he would have recognized her for what she really was. As it was, she was nothing more than an attractive human female to him.
The thought should not have been as disheartening as it was.
“Get a grip, Jessie,” she growled at her reflection. “It has to be this way.” No one, not even a gorgeous Alpha male straight out of her fantasies, could know the truth. The only way this could work is if she was human.
But that in itself held possibilities, she realized. Alpha males still hooked up with human females, didn’t they? It’s not like anything could happen past this week anyway. Why not enjoy it while she could?
Right then and there, Jessie made her decision. If she saw the gorgeous male again, and if he showed the slightest hint of interest, she was going for it.
With that in mind, she slipped on her
one and only sundress and headed out to the bar restaurant.
Chapter 3 – Across a Crowded Patio
Jessie couldn’t help but look for the bronzed god, the one who had helped her earlier. But there was no sign of him. It was a public beach; he might not even be staying at this hotel. Or maybe he’d already left. Or maybe -—and this seemed the mostly likely scenario -—he was otherwise engaged with an equally beautiful woman. Men like that did not spend their evenings alone.
She scanned the sea of faces anyway as she waited for the busy hostess’s attention, but didn’t see the one she was looking for. The place was already crowded; she was beginning to realize that it probably always was. With the dinner hour fast approaching, a line was already forming behind her, and she was glad she’d hurried to get here when she did.
She ignored the gawks and stares as she followed the hostess through the maze of tables to the last open table in the back corner and smiled. It was perfect. From here she’d be able to see the entire place. Her mysterious Alpha wasn’t here yet, but if he did show, she would spot him in a heartbeat, well before he would see her.
Jessie still hadn’t completely worked out what she would do if and when she did see him. She knew what her primal instincts wanted her to do -—entice him to join her, get him worked up into a frenzy, then take everything he could give her for the rest of the night.
But her human side was in total control now, and she was able to consider things more logically. Avoiding him entirely was probably the smartest thing to do. Having an eleventh-hour fling (or a couple of flings) with a human male was one thing, but getting involved with what was almost certainly an Alpha was just asking for trouble.
Then again, Jessie was a magnet for trouble. And not just any magnet, but the female equivalent of a super-strong, extremely powerful, neodymium rare earth magnet.
Another thought occurred to her as she watched the constant ebb and flow of people around her: what if he arrived and he wasn’t alone? What would she do then? Most of those around her were in groups of two or more; her solitude was definitely an anomaly.
A frown pulled at her lips. It was common for she-wolves to battle over males. The males, in fact, encouraged it. But she wasn’t among shifters now. Jessie scanned the crowd again, but she already knew there was not a single female here who could best her, even in her human form. Still, the last thing she needed was to draw that kind of attention to herself.
No, she decided. If the Alpha showed, and if he was not alone, Jessie would turn her attentions elsewhere. With that worked out, she sat back and waited for the harried server to come by and take her drink order.
The amulet’s muting of her olfactory senses was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because she was saved the unpleasantness of inhaling the scent of sweaty, unwashed humans with her wolf’s nose. A curse, because she would have no advanced warning if and when he showed up. She would have to rely on her less acute vision.
Across the patio, the next live band was just setting up, a group of older guys, maybe late thirties or early forties, sporting loud Hawaiian shirts and khakis. Judging by the way the crowd responded, they were a popular local favorite.
It was a nice setup. An enormous flat-stone patio, dotted with an assortment of round, square, and oblong tables, each shaded by large canvas umbrellas adorned with white twinkle lights. Across from her table was the live stage. To the right was a beach-accessible bar and a beautiful view of the shoreline. To the left was the entrance, which was where the majority of her attention was focused.
Jessie was on her fourth drink (this two-for-one deal was awesome!), about ready to give up hope when she saw him. Or, rather, he saw her. She’d been watching the live band from beneath half-lidded eyes, slightly mellowed from the rum, when she felt his gaze. Even from across the crowded space, it was a tangible thing.
And he was alone.
Now or never, she told herself.
She smiled at him, acknowledging him with a nod. And then, just because she was feeling a little extra bold, she crooked one finger in a classic come hither gesture.
* * *
Matt left his room feeling unusually jacked-up. After arriving late the night before, he’d slept right through the better part of the morning, which was something he never did. Though he’d been resistant to the idea of a beach vacation, it was nice not to feel compelled to rise at the crack of dawn. It was also kind of nice to have nothing better to do than spend the afternoon body surfing the waves made bigger and stronger by the hurricane slowly making its way up the East Coast.
But as nice as it was, he couldn’t completely forget about his responsibilities. His plan was to spend a couple of days here to placate Dani, then head home. Granted, things were going well and he wasn’t expecting any trouble, but that’s exactly when things usually hit the fan. He’d be ready when they did. In the meantime, he was going to make the most of this rare time off. He grinned, thinking of all the feminine interest he’d attracted at the beach today.
Which brought the image of the gorgeous blonde to mind.
He’d noticed her long before she’d noticed him. With her golden skin, gold and sable waves, and knockout curves she had definitely stood out. Even sound asleep as she’d been, she’d commanded his (and a lot of others’) attention.
Surfing the area directly in front of her had been deliberate on his part. Each time he rode a wave in, he’d looked up to see if she’d noticed. She hadn’t. But every other female (and quite a few males) had.
As the tide came in, he was riding closer and closer to where she was. While others moved their umbrellas and chairs farther back, she hadn’t. Sound asleep, she’d remained blissfully unaware of the encroaching waters. And him, which prickled.
He had been debating several different methods of catching her attention when a substantial wave surge did it for him. She’d been so cute, those big blue-green eyes popping wide open in surprise at the splash of cold water on those incredibly sexy legs. She’d scrambled to save her stuff from getting soaked while all those jealous heifers around her smirked at her discomfort. Their smirks had quickly turned to frowns, though, when he took advantage of the opportunity to offer his assistance.
Incredibly, the sleeping beauty was even more beautiful awake. All of those delicious curves and toned muscles, moving together with unusual grace, drawing the eyes of every male within sight. But he had gotten there first, and that was probably a good thing. It was in his nature to take down anything that challenged him.
That same nature was now feeling a little confused. He could have sworn she was wolf. She was too beautiful, too perfect of form and feature to be human. And when she smiled at him, his wolf actually whimpered, which had never happened.
Except, everything about her was human. Her scent was that of a human female, with none of the underlying muskiness of a she-wolf. Her eyes were a crystalline blue-green, devoid of the silver or gold flecks that would mark her as one of his kind.
It was a little disappointing, but not enough to completely deter him. He’d had human females before. He’d just have to be more careful, that’s all. Keep his wolf on a tight leash. After spending the last several weeks practically celibate, he was more than willing to make a few exceptions, human or not.
He’d played it cool on the beach, carrying her stuff up to the rental shack, then leaving. The interest was there. He’d seen it in her eyes, in the way she had checked him out. He’d seen that look enough to know what it meant. Oh yeah, she’d probably been thinking about him ever since. It was good to let the anticipation build a little, but not too long. His needs were too great to waste time playing games. He wanted her, therefore she would be his.
His plan was simple. He already had her scent, having made sure he inhaled enough of it earlier. He was just going to walk around the hotel complex until he picked it up again. Within seconds of closing his door behind him, he had it. Fresh and clean. Subtle. Feminine. A tropical mixture of coconut and something he couldn�
��t immediately identify.
Matt stilled as he approached the outdoor restaurant. His wolf was instantly alert. There she was. The woman from the beach. Looking at him. Smiling at him. Crooking her finger at him.
His eyes narrowed, his Alpha nature rising to the surface. He was the one who usually brought others to him with a look or a slight gesture, not the other way around. Even more surprisingly, he was responding to it.
“I’m meeting someone,” he heard himself saying to the hostess, the one who was openly gawking at him and saying something which he hadn’t heard and didn’t care about. “And there she is.”
Without another word, he made his way through the crowd, arriving at her table. Freshly showered, glowing with radiance, dressed in a few strips of fabric that accentuated her gorgeous body, even sitting down as she was. She looked even more delicious than she had at the beach. Blood hummed through his veins with the anticipation that always preceded a good hunt.
“Are you waiting for someone?” he asked in his deep, rumbling voice. Not that it mattered. She had captured his attention, therefore she was his until he chose to release her.
Her smile widened. “Not anymore.”
His cock went from half-staff to full-on pole at the sound of that sultry voice. He discreetly sniffed the air, but once again, he scented nothing but human female. It confused him; everything about her screamed wolf, and yet, her scent and her eyes said she wasn’t. And why was that so disappointing? Human or not, it didn’t matter, because it was only going to be temporary. A nice diversion to take the edge off enough to keep his pack off his back about finding a mate for a while.
The server was there in seconds, practically panting at his side to take his order. Matt didn’t even glance at her.
“Looks like I have some catching up to do,” he said, eyeing the empty glasses in front of the gorgeous female instead. Inwardly, he hoped she hadn’t imbibed too much; he sensed a spirit in her that he would hate to see dampened too much by alcohol.
Wolf Out of Water: Mythic Series, Book 4 Page 3
