Hearts on Fire

by Serenity Snow

  “Fuck yeah.” Cyanna moved faster.

  “Baby, I need you just like that.” Cyanna hit her sweet spots over and over. Slowly, she picked up the pace, until her balls slapped against Joslyn’s ass, and the scent of sex filled the room thicker and richer. Joslyn’s wolf growled as it drowned in pleasure, and then she was coming again with a hard scream.

  A harsh growl followed and she clutched at Cyanna as her hot seed pumped into her. Damn, Joslyn was already falling in love with her. It was going to hurt like hell when she had to take her joining vows.

  Chapter Eleven

  The wedding wasn’t until six this evening, but Joslyn found herself awakened by the very faint sound of Cyanna pulling on her boots.

  She opened one eye. “Cy, what are you doing?”

  “Going out. Marcus is on guard duty,” she said. “He’ll take you to your parents when you’re ready.”

  “Cy, no,” she exclaimed. “ This is our time.”

  “I’m going with Dash. He’s one of the senior security team members.”

  “Going where?” Joslyn sat up, anger beating at her. She pushed her disheveled hair out of her face. She was topless, even though they’d showered after the third time. She’d been so wrung she could barely stand.

  “We’re going to Neal’s,” she said.

  “Your father said to stay out of it,” she snapped, pushing back the covers. “I’m asking your brother for his number.”

  Cyanna growled at her. “Be still, girl,” she ordered as she got to her feet. “Joss, I need to be part of this. I could be looking for you now instead of snooping on him. I’d be half feral.”

  Her shoulders slumped. They’d just started seeing each other, but they had known each other for over a year. For most of that time, she’d been wildly crazy about Cyanna. She’d wished for a moment like this—well, the B&B, hot sex and them getting close. Now that it was here, it was being ruined by some jackass who thought he had some moronic claim on her.

  Cyanna sat down on the bed next to her and pushed her fingers through Joslyn’s hair. “Baby, don’t ask me to sit around and do nothing when someone appears to be stalking you for some reason. I need to know that reason. I need to know how to protect you.”

  “Logically, I know what you have to do,” she murmured. “I just want to be with you, that’s all.”

  “When I get back, we’ll go into Wind Haven.” Cyanna kissed her softly. “Meantime, go spend some time with your family.”

  Joslyn nuzzled her neck, taking in that sandalwood scent. Her wolf relaxed. “Don’t be too late, or we won’t have any time before the wedding.”

  “I won’t.” Cyanna kissed her again before getting to her feet.

  “Miss me so much you can’t wait to get back to me.”

  Cyanna laughed. “I already do.”

  * * * *

  Joslyn invited Marcus in after dressing. He reminded her of his sister just a little when he smiled at her.

  “Okay?” he asked.

  “Fine.” She shrugged. “Are you?”

  He grinned at her and he was, she decided, quite handsome. “Always. Your father called. They want you at the house immediately,” he said.

  “Why didn’t you stop her from going?”

  He snorted. “I’ve learned by now that when Cyan makes up her mind to do something, the best thing for me to do is get on board or get the hell out of her way.”

  She frowned. “You aren’t close?”

  “Very. But she’s a real bitch when she wants to be, and she’s kicked my ass more times than I can count. Besides, I know where she’s coming from. I wouldn’t let anyone keep me from doing this either if the situation was reversed.”

  She studied him. “Your father is going to be mad.”

  “He’s going to ream her out but good, but she’ll let you pet her afterwards,” he said with a grin.

  “Your father chooses the person I’m going to join with. Who did he choose?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “Only my mother knows. He might not have even selected him yet. No one wants to miss their chance at their real mate. It’s a shame you have to.”

  * * * *

  Dash was still scowling at her when they pulled into Joslyn’s driveway. She knew he was worried her father would demote him, but she really didn’t give much of a damn. Joslyn was hers, and there was no way she was going to completely trust every bit of this hunt to someone else.

  “Trenton said McNair was out of town on business,” Dash told her.

  “I know that, Dash,” she grumbled as she climbed out of the car. “Let’s go in through the back.”

  Dash didn’t argue. He followed her into Joslyn’s home and out the back door. They found a couple of damaged boards in the privacy fence between Joslyn and Neal’s yards. They were both able to fit through, her without shifting.

  “Lucky you brought along extra clothes,” she said, “or you’d have to stay like that until we got home.”

  The cynogryphon had an eagle’s head, and it was an eagle’s snort that escaped Dash. She smirked as they made their way up to the house. Cyanna picked the lock, but it was Dash who disabled the security system after they got inside.

  “Looks like he might have a camera or two,” Cyanna said, noticing the small pods high on the ceiling.

  “It’s all disabled,” Dash told her. “He’s dumb enough to have it all hooked to the same system. The neighborhood’s so nice, he probably didn’t think he needed anything extra.”

  “He could have some kind of back-up.”

  Dash shrugged his broad shoulders. “Fuck him. Let him call the cops. If he’s fucking with your girl, he already knows you want his ass on a platter.”

  “I want it six feet under,” she muttered. They separated and split the house in half. She had to marvel at how clean the guy was. Each room was almost obsessively neat.

  Cyanna stepped into one of the bedrooms after leaving the living room to find it posing as an office. Like the other rooms, it was neat, but not perfectly. It was the picture of masculinity with dark colors, wood and leather. She searched his desk, finding nothing more than work stuff. Then she looked around the room.

  “I guess you are just Joe Average,” she murmured, and then her gaze landed on the bookcase to the right of the desk. She narrowed her eyes as she tried to figure out what was off about it.

  She crossed the room, wondering if there could be a secret room behind it. After feeling around for five minutes, the case swung forward. Cyanna stepped inside, finding the light easily, and her jaw dropped as she stared at one wall.

  “Oh, fuck.”

  “We may as well check out,” Dash called from the bedroom door. “There’s nothing here.”

  “Come here, Dash.”

  Dash stepped into the room behind her a moment later and cussed as his gaze landed on the pictures of Joslyn and the camera console. The console revealed a picture of Joslyn’s bedroom.

  “Son of a bitch,” he murmured. “Cyan, this guy is obsessed with her.”

  She was seated at the console now, studying the dates of CD cases, and found one with a date from Wednesday night. She slotted it in and cued it up.

  “That bastard’s been watching us.” She growled. No wonder Joss felt as if she was being watched all the time.

  Dash stepped back when she got to her feet. He watched in surprise as she slammed her hand down on the console before leaving the room and coming back with a golf club. She systematically tore the expensive equipment apart.

  “I’m going to burn this fucking place to the ground,” she said, and Dash grabbed her as she headed out the door.

  “No fire,” he snarled. “I let you tear that equipment up, but we’re not burning anything. That attracts attention and puts other homes in danger.”

  She growled at him. “I can’t let him get away with this. He sits in here jerking off while he watches her, I bet.”

  “Yeah, I would if I was him, but we’ll get him
before he hurts her. Trenton already has someone tracking him down in Arkansas.”

  “I bet he’s not even there.”

  “And we’ll put our people to work looking for him here. Now, let’s go.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Joslyn engaged in a little busywork, helping her mother with housework before sitting down in the living room with a book to wait for Cyanna. She suspected the only reason her mother had summoned her in the first place was to keep her away from Cyanna, since she was now someone else’s.

  That was something Joslyn still didn’t want to accept. She was falling in love with a woman who’d won her slowly with her sometimes-dry way of putting things. Cyanna was a surprise Joslyn never thought she find in her life. She was sweet and salty at the same time.

  Her chest clenched at the knowledge that on Sunday, this would all be over. Her heart would begin a slow decay as she tried to prepare herself for the life with a man she could never love. “Hey.”

  She lifted her head from the book she was reading. She was curled up on the couch in the living room. Her cousin Kia came strolling toward her. Her auburn hair curled around her face in a short pixie cut.

  “Hi.” She hadn’t seen Kia in five months, and the two weren’t that close, but Joslyn suspected Kia had been ordered to keep her company.

  “I heard you were the betrothed to the Blood Moon pack.”

  Joslyn shrugged. “I just found out yesterday.”

  “But you’re already mating with someone,” she murmured. “That’s so crazy. I’d take your place if they let me.”

  She smiled softly. “Thanks, Kia.”

  Kia gave her cousin’s arm a squeeze. “Wanna go out?”

  She set her book aside. “Yes.”

  Kia smiled. “Come on. I told your mother I wanted some company on a trip to the bookstore.”

  Joslyn grinned. There was only one bookstore in town. “How long before we have to be back?”

  “Four.”

  Joslyn glanced at her watch. They had all afternoon. She ran upstairs to slip on her boots before grabbing a sweater and heading outside to meet Kia at her car. They pulled away from the house and Kia headed north of town, Blood Moon territory.

  They pulled through the gates fifteen minutes later and Kia followed a road that led deep into the forested area.

  “Where are you taking me?” Joslyn asked.

  “I do work out here, remember?” Kia said and threw her a smile.

  “So you brought me out here to watch you work?”

  What looked like a tree house came into view. It could barely be seen by the leafy evergreen leaves that obscured it from view. Kia parked a short distance away and got out.

  “I have some work to do and I thought you could talk to her.” She pointed and Joslyn followed her gaze.

  Her eyes lit up and Joslyn smiled as she watched long legs encased in casual navy pants and boots come striding out of the trees. “Thanks, Kia.”

  Kia shrugged. “I’d rather be with my woman, too, if I was in the last days of freedom.” Kia smiled and opened her door.

  Cyanna pulled open Joslyn’s door and gave her a hand out. She pulled Joslyn into her arms. “Do you want to hang out with me?” Cyanna asked with a smile. “I have to pick out a gift for your sister’s wedding.”

  “Yes.” Joslyn smiled up at her, arms draping loosely around Cyanna’s neck.

  “Thanks, Kia,” Cyanna said, giving the other woman a brief look before taking Joslyn’s hand and leading her away.

  “You’re welcome,” she said softly and climbed the rope ladder to the tree house her boss lived in.

  * * * *

  Joslyn enjoyed her day out with Cyanna. She took her into the shops of Wind Haven in search of a gift for Mariana. Cyanna also introduced her to her friends that lived in town and some of her family. Her step-cousin Capulet hung out with them while they had a bite at a quaint café built of old brick with exposed beams and a flower bed beneath a skylight.

  “Maybe you can set me up with Kia,” Capulet said, giving Joslyn a beguiling smile. The mocha-skinned woman had ebony hair that swirled around her shoulders in a beautiful cloud.

  “Kia?” Joslyn asked. “She’s not gay.”

  “Well, too bad,” Capulet murmured. “She is one hot babe.” She sighed. “I have an idea for Mariana’s gift. She’s going to get pregnant on the honeymoon.”

  “What? How do you know?” Joslyn demanded.

  She tapped her temple. “I’m a seer. She has a desire for a photo album, but not just anything ordinary.”

  “One for her and one for the ba—is anyone else getting her one?” Cyanna asked with a frown.

  “Not even her mother. She got her dishes. I know where you can get something she will love forever.”

  Cyanna paid for their meal and they headed off. Joslyn helped pick out the albums, in awe of such beautifully designed books, papers and accessories.

  “You’re a great designer, Capulet,” Joslyn said when Cyanna left them alone for a few minutes.

  “Thanks.” She leaned against the counter where they stood with a case full of scrapbooks beneath the glass. “Joslyn, I know you’ve been dying to ask me something since I told you about my ability.”

  “No, I don’t—I shouldn’t know. That will make it easier.” She had wanted to ask about the man she was being forced to marry.

  Capulet smiled. “Fate didn’t conspire against you, Joslyn,” she said, capturing her hand and giving it a squeeze. “She anticipated you, in every way possible. She knew what you would want, what you’d need, and she designed it for you even before you were born.” She laughed. “I think I might be speaking of your betrothed more. Someone who thinks fate pissed on them the day they were born.” She smiled secretly.

  “Will I be happy with him?” Joslyn asked quietly.

  Capulet nodded. “More than either of you can imagine now,” she said. “I know just what to get for your wedding, too.”

  “What?”

  Capulet laughed. “I’m not telling, but on the day of your ceremony, my real gift is that you can ask me one thing about your future. It’ll be a gift just for you.”

  * * * *

  He stopped short after stepping into the store for the items he needed for the gift. She wasn’t supposed to be here, which would have rendered the gift unnecessary, but there she was at the counter at the back of the store with Capulet. He’d heard she was about to become engaged from Scott and Mariana. It was to be a man, from what they knew, a sentinel from the Blood Moon pack, but he still couldn’t allow her to do this.

  He could bear her with another man for a short time. He’d simply kill him while they honeymooned.

  His gut twisted with black rage when that woman joined them. She had a smug smile on her face, telling him she was very pleased with herself. Joslyn turned to her with a smile that drifted from his view as she turned her back to him to fully look at Cyanna Storm. Joslyn nuzzled at Cyanna’s mouth and kissed her lightly.

  His fists clenched at his sides, his claws slicing out. His animal urged him to go over there and rip her to shreds.

  Laughter filled the air, cutting into his blood-rage slightly. He saw two cubs in animal form wrestling on the carpeted floor.

  Joslyn leaned into Cyanna and kissed her neck. Cyanna looked at her and smiled.

  “I want a litter just like them,” Joslyn said and Cyanna laughed.

  “I don’t know, Joss,” she murmured. “They look pretty rambunctious to me. Are you going to be a stay-at-home mom?”

  “I would love to have you come home to me after a hard day,” she answered, but there was sadness in her voice.

  Cyanna cupped her cheek. “I would love that, too.”

  “Would you miss me until you couldn’t stand it, so you called me just to let me know you were thinking of me?” Joslyn asked in a teasing tone.

  “I’d come and pet you.”

  Joslyn grinned and kissed her.

  “Bitch,” he said softl
y. “You ruined everything.”

  The women laughed as a pair of cubs ran out into the floor and began to wrestle, but his mind was on the plan he had to carry out. There was simply no way he was going to be able to live without Joslyn. She was food to his parched soul. He’d kill her before he let her live without him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Joslyn was a little on edge that evening as the wedding started. Her mother was too busy to keep her from making a beeline for Cyanna, but Seymour waylaid her, unfortunately.

  “Hello, Seymour,” she said in a slightly irritated tone.

  “You really should be more discreet,” he said coldly. “Running after a damn woman in public is pathetic. Where is your pride and your family—”

  “My family is getting in my way and so are you, Seymour,” she said coldly. “I’ve already made it clear that I’m not interested in getting back together with you. Besides that, my family has already decided to give me away to the Blood Moon pack, to some guy I don’t even know. So, I’m going to enjoy my time with Cyanna no matter who’s disgraced by it.”

  “That’s too bad they decided to take your chances of a real mating from you,” he murmured. “Do you know who he is?”

  “No but that wouldn’t change anything,” she answered with a shrug.

  “I really am sorry,” he said giving her arm a squeeze. “I’m sorry I’ve been pushing so hard too. I guess I’ve just been trying to grasp onto something normal.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “I guess I should have been a better friend. I mean you’re—it had to be hard on you living in the middle of a war zone.”

  “It was hard but my behavior was no excuse. I still think your being with a woman is wrong, but I won’t make trouble for you once we get back to the city.”

  “Thanks.” She gave him a smile. “I’ll be a better friend to you.”

  He gave her a rueful smile and squeezed her arm again before quickly withdrawing at the sound of a low warning growl coming from his right. He threw Cyanna a hard look and shook his head before withdrawing his hand. “I got it, Cyanna.”