by Crystal Dawn
Whatever she did, set him off because he roared like the king of the jungle he was. She looked at his face, noticing his eyes glowed gold with his lion showing strong. They were both slicked with sweat, tired but relaxed. She was asleep before he pulled out of her. In her sleep, she felt cold. Her hands reached for a blanket pulling it over her.
It was hours later, when the sun began to lighten the sky that she started to wake. At first, she felt panicked but then she remembered it was Sunday. She had a lot to get done, but she wasn’t on a strict schedule like she usually was. Her hand reached out, but she wasn’t surprised that she was alone in bed. The thing that happened between them, was what it was. It embarrassed her a bit, this first foray into casual sex.
Seb had been a thoughtful and pleasing sexual partner, but she didn’t think she could ever do such a thing again. Andi wasn’t the casual kind. She’d had three long term relationships in her life, the shortest lasted a year. The next had lasted nearly two years, and the last had been a year and a half. They had all ended with them staying friends.
Maybe she was just the friend type. Someday, she’d find someone that could be her other half, but she was in no hurry to find him. There was a lot of work to be done to prepare for that day. Now that Seb had dealt with her needs, she should be good for two more years. She felt warm as she relived the memory of last night in her mind.
Andi got up, today would be busy. She ate a quick bite for breakfast, showered, dried, dressed, and hurried downstairs. Her purchases from yesterday were everywhere. The things already in the gift shop were ready to go. They just needed prices. Things in her work room, needed, well, work.
The first thing she did was price things in the gift shop so those looking for something special would know what items cost. Pricing didn’t take long so she moved on to the arrangements she needed after checking the website. Monday would be a busy day. Once she got several of the arrangements done, she took the time to assess the items she’d bought yesterday that needed work.
Some items just needed cleaning which would be the priority. It was important to make as much money as quickly as possible so she could meet her obligations. Andi had all of those easy fixes done by lunchtime. She went upstairs to get out her leftovers for lunch. It would be a better lunch than usual.
Half her salad was left which she out on a plate then added dressing. Another plate was used to put the leftover steak, grilled vegetables and leftover half of the baked potato. Popping it into the microwave, she turned to her salad, munching on it until the microwave beeped. When she pulled out the heated food, the aroma made her mouth water.
This was a meal she rarely got to eat. She intended to enjoy it thoroughly. Unfortunately, she wasn’t expecting the knock on the door. Andi considered ignoring it, but they just knocked harder the second time. Going downstairs, she opened the door, not too surprised to find both her sisters.
“Andi, tell us everything,” Candi demanded.
“Well, hello to you too,” She remarked.
“Hello, now tell all!” Sandi demanded.
“Come upstairs so you can watch me eat while we talk,” Andi instructed. She went back upstairs with her sisters trailing her.
She sat back down and the table taking a big bite which she chewed well. “We had a great shopping trip. Breakfast we ate at Sara’s, it was good as usual. We headed out to several stores getting some amazing buys. Yard sales dotted our path, with more good buys. We ate at the steakhouse in Springfield for lunch.”
“That one you like?” Sandi asked. Andi nodded.
“More great buys coming back, we went a different way. When we hit home, we ordered the steak specials from Sara’s, as you can see.” Andi pointed to her plate.
“What then?” Candi prodded.
“We unloaded everything before we ate supper.”
“That’s not all. I’m sure of it,” Sandi urged.
“Well, he left right afterwards. It’s one and done.”
“I didn’t see that coming,” Candi admitted.
“It relieved my stress, the male is talented.”
“I thought he wanted more,” Sandi offered.
“Most shifters are like wolves. They don’t pick their mates, so they play around until they find them.”
“Are you okay?” Sandi asked.
“I’m fine. There’s too much to do to dwell on a male that won’t be back,” Andi said. While that was true, she had no control over what her mind chose to dwell on. She finished her food.
“Why don’t you show us your treasures?” Candi suggested.
They all trooped downstairs to look at her purchases. They went to the gift shop area first. Her sisters aahed and oohed over everything. Then they moved to the work room. “What’s this for? It looks like trash,” Candi said holding up an old crib mobile. It was an older type that could be wound up so it would play Pop Goes the Weasel. The parts attached below the mechanical part were fabric which was shredded.
“When I’m through with that, Moe will love it.”
Her sisters looked at it doubtfully. “I suppose it’s an antique,” Candi offered.
“Try to imagine it clean with the metal shiny. Little wolves will be attached wear the ratty fabric remnants are.” Andi wound it up so it could play.
“That part is cool. I can’t imagine what you see in your head sometimes. Your projects usually turn out well. Show it to me before you give it to Moe,” Candi instructed.
Andi just knew it would be marvelous. It was one of the items Seb had shook his head over but they’d thrown it in free. There was no risk in taking it. If she ran into trouble, she had several cousins that made a living fixing items like it they would then sell. Just like what she did, except on a bigger scale.
Moe was a wonderful girl, she needed to give her something special that stood out. In a family with a mix of wealthy and crafty people, it wasn’t easy. This project was something that couldn’t be bought. She’d never seen a metal wind up crib mobile before in any condition. This was the perfect gift.
Projects like this gave Andi a great deal of pleasure. Had she not needed it for Moe, she would have kept it herself. Why she had her mind on babies, she couldn’t say but suddenly she wanted to collect special items like this for the child in her far-off future. Get lucky once in two years and immediately she was emotional.
Her sisters stayed a little while as they looked through each item trying to guess her plans for them. They didn’t recognize most of the damaged items. Once she was done with them, they wouldn’t be able to match them to the original item, except for a few like the mobile. Both sisters left after reminding her she would have to get a gift for each of them to give Moe.
Andi had already looked finding one possible gift. It was an heirloom baby quilt. She would wash it then see how it patched up. If it wasn’t perfect, she would keep it for her own baby. She didn’t mind some signs of wear, but she only wanted perfect gifts to give Moe.
Since she was alone again, she got back to work. She finished up the arrangements she needed before she turned her attention on the mobile. There was a limited amount of time to get that project done since the baby shower was already scheduled. She removed all the signs of the fabric that had hung form the metal portion of the mobile. She would replace those with something after the rest was in top shape.
First she washed it, making sure to clean any loose debris or dirt off. The metal massive, but it hadn’t rusted. It might be aluminum, but she thought it was platinum. Once she cleaned it, there was no sign of rust or tarnish. It was ready for the wolves, but she didn’t have them. It would take time to find the perfect little figures to hang from the mobile.
The next project she looked at was a small round table. It would work as a hall table or a nightstand. It needed to be cleaned, sanded and painted or varnished. That was a time intensive project that she didn’t have time for now. There was a knock on the door which made Andi assume her sisters had forgotten something. She turned on the po
rch light and was about to open the door when she realized it wasn’t them.
A male stood on the porch his eyes glowing red. She ran up the stairs as he began to hit the door attempting to open it. Had Marissa not spelled it, he would have already been inside with her at his mercy. She grabbed her keys setting off the car alarm before running to her room for the panic button. Her hands shook as she pushed the button. Glass broke downstairs telling her he’d given up on the door to try a window. They weren’t spelled so he would have no trouble entering there.
Opening the drawer of her nightstand, she pulled out her gun, quickly checking to see it was loaded then taking off the safety. Turning, she observed the male that leaned on her door frame. “I’ve come for you. Don’t make me hurt you, Darling.”
The male had nearly white blond hair that feathered around his face. Fine and long, it framed his eyes which were deep blue with a hint of purple. The male was tall, he could be shifter, vampire, or witch, but he was a paranormal. His body was lean, but well-muscled without any extra fat.
“I’m not going anywhere with you. You might want to think about what a bullet in the brain will do to you,” Andi suggested.
“That is a bit if a conundrum. What’s faster? A bullet or me. Hm, if I lose the race that could hurt. On the other hand, I like a challenge. It is true that I prefer not to die.” He cocked his head to the side. “I need to be more decisive. Looks like I ran out of time. See you later, Baby.” The male ran straight at the window shattering it as he hit it. Footsteps thundered up the stairs, Tyne entered with Moe and several others right behind him.
“Shit! He’s getting away. Someone cut him off,” Tyne yelled into his radio. A couple of the guys behind him turned to run back down the stairs. “Did he talk to you?”
“Yes. It was crazy. Almost like he was flirting,” Andi observed.
“We didn’t get a good look at him. What did he look like?”
“Really tall, maybe taller than you. Slim, like a swimmer or a runner. Fine blond hair, long with an almost whitish color. Deep blue eyes with a hint of purple, he also had pale skin. The male’s voice was soft, melodious. Oh, his eyes kept glowing red. It was freaky.”
“Tyne, could it be?”
“Sounds fae to me,” Tyne agreed.
“We’ve not had fae chasing white wolves, have we?” Andi asked when she realized they didn’t always tell them everything when it happened.
“Not that I’ve heard,” Tyne admitted. “Maybe he’s a mercenary.”
“Maybe but he seems cultured,” Andi offered.
Tyne snorted. “A cultured abductor. Goddess help us.”
“Would educated sound better to you?” Andi asked.
“We need to give Andi a guard,” Moe stated. She stood there sniffing. Tyne started sniffing too.
“Did you want to tell us something?” Moe asked.
“I went on a date with Sebastian. It was a one and done,” Andi admitted as her face turned red. “That was yesterday, not today.”
“Your sisters?” Moe asked.
“They were here earlier but not in this room,” Andi observed.
“Is Sebastian, er, your mate?” Tyne asked.
“I don’t know, but I doubt it,” Andi responded.
“Maybe you should stay at our house tonight?” Moe suggested.
“You know Monday is a big day around here,” Andi pointed out.
“I’m just worried about you. That male is powerful. I can smell the magic he left in his wake,” Moe admitted.
“Since when?” Tyne asked.
“I’ve been working with Marissa a little,” Moe admitted.
“It’s a good skill, but is this the best time to learn it?” Tyne asked.
They stayed for a while covering the two broken windows, then leaving an attractive wolf behind to sleep on her couch. “My name is Harley,” he announced.
“I’m Andi. Have you had supper yet?”
“I have, but I could eat some more,” he said like a typical wolf.
Andi went ahead cooking enough food for both of them. They sat down with spaghetti and meatballs. It was an oldie but a goodie. She heated up some frozen garlic bread that was surprisingly good. Cheesy broccoli went with the meal well. Once they were done, she cleaned up while he paced around like one might expect a guard to do.
“So, are you another one of Moe’s cousins?” Harley asked.
“Yes, there are a lot of us.”
“So it seems. I keep meeting new ones.”
They talked a little while, but she needed to get to bed so she could get up early in the morning. When she left the room, Harley was kicked back on the couch with pillows and a blanket. She slipped into her bedroom, she would shower in the morning instead. Once she stripped, she put on a sleepshirt because she had company.
Snuggling into her pillows, she drifted off to sleep. She woke while it was still dark but she sensed a presence. It was Seb, or was she dreaming? It seemed so damn real. Walking to the bed, he stripped naked before he joined her. His silky skin was hot to the touch as her hands stroked him.
“Take your clothes off, Andi. Do it for me.”
She couldn’t help herself, she undressed. “Do you like this better?” She teased him.
“You have no idea. I want to claim you. It’s hard not to give you the mating bite. My gums burn with the need, but I fight it,” he admitted. “I scent a male wolf nearby.”
“I had an attempt to abduct me tonight. He’s here to guard me.”
“You don’t need him, you have me.”
Her dream said just what she expected Seb would have said had he been here. But he was through talking now. His lips claimed hers in a passionate kiss that fired her need. She felt just like she had last night, when he’d made love to her. His hands stroked her lower and lower until they were near her thighs. It made her shiver delightfully.
His mouth moved down next kissing nipping, and licking every inch of her until he was between her thighs. Dear Lord, he felt amazing. His tongue probed her channel, plunging in and out quickly as his thumb moved to her clit circling it. His tongue moved its way to her clit while his hand moved to her channel, sticking two fingers in as if testing for readiness. Once she was soaked, he added a third finger.
Now he worked her clit with his tongue even nibbling it with his teeth until finally, she had a screaming orgasm. Her face flushed when she realized she’d screamed. Harley could hear her through these thin walls. She just wanted to hide under the blanket, but Seb wouldn’t allow it. Moving up her body, he slammed his hard shaft deep into her slick pussy. Her moans seemed to spur him on as he pounded into her harder, deeper, and just plain more.
Her knees were bent as she used whatever leverage she could to rise up to meet his thrusts. They slammed together, both of them sweat slicked from their exertions. Her hands clutched at his shoulders not wanting to let him go. Andi’s pleasure ratcheted higher and higher. There was no doubt the lion was an incredible lover.
The climax that had waited just on the edge of her awareness rushed over her. It wasn’t long before he joined her. When they both collapsed, sleep claimed her. Later, when she woke, she was naked but alone.
Chapter 7
Andi
His lion was restless as it paced in his head. He’d not wanted to leave her after they’d made love. Under different, better circumstances, he’d have stayed to make love again over and over. That was a new way of looking at things for him. Usually he was one and done, though mentally he was gone almost before he’d began. Yeah, that was as bad as it sounded. His emotions just weren’t invested in the females he slept with until now. He was that guy, the love ‘em and leave ’em one.
Seb tossed and turned. Nothing was working out the way he planned. The date was just supposed to be an opportunity to wet his cock. It sounded crude, maybe because it was. Males, especially shifters, had needs. There was only one fated mate, but it could take a lifetime to find her. Some never did. He’d always figured his
would be a lioness. She’d be sweet and supportive. The type to stay home raising the cubs while he did the work an alpha was meant to.
That’s what he needed in his position, a female like his mother. She would run the household, hosting events that would garner whatever support he needed. If she felt the need to keep busy, she could do charity work. What he needed was the perfect high society wife. One who understood the stress of his position so she could give him peace when he needed it or sex to ease his stress when he needed that.
Andi wasn’t what he had in mind. She was a human for one thing, ambitious in her own right, for another. That made her totally wrong for him but being with her had felt so right. Seb felt confused because all he wanted right now was to see her again. The thought of another female turned his stomach. The only thing he could think to do was throw himself in his work. There was certainly plenty of that to keep him busy.
He managed to get through Sunday working his emails, sending out information, and receiving some. Maybe he was overly careful, but he’d had an investigator check out Andi. Seb had wondered about her, especially since Ariel seemed to know her so well. It was a known fact she was a white wolf. That meant her sisters were, too. It seemed everyone he met around here was in that white wolf clan. The investigator also confirmed Andi had been attacked. How he knew this, the male didn’t say, but Seb had just known it already. The sinking suspicion had hit him the first time Ariel had sent out the emails warning of attacks.
Roger, the real estate agent, called midmorning Monday. He’d faxed him a list of places. “Just take a look at them, then let me know which ones you’d like to look at. It’s a buyer’s market if you’re flexible.”
Sindy was flexible. She had a broad range on the price, size, and location. Roger had also gone with a wide variety on all of those. There were houses on both ends of the price range. The one at the bottom of the range looked like it would have to be leveled. The one at the top end looked like a mansion that would suit all of her needs.
