by Celeste Raye
They went downstairs, and Jazz was nervous. He took her hand and rubbed it reassuring to make her feel better. It worked. Jazz used him as a starting point so that she could find the strength to meet her sister.
Chapter Twelve
Dennis watched the two women converse and he knew that it was going to be easier to talk Jazz into staying. Now that he knew that there was a real reason to keep her safe, he was going to do just that. It was hard for Dennis to imagine his change of view in under a week, but it was there.
Frank came over and handed him a drink.
“Welcome to the club.”
He snickered, and Dennis didn’t even want to ask what his comment was about. He knew that it was going to be something about Jazz. There wasn’t anything to talk about yet. Dennis had his feelings, and he had a kiss. That wasn’t enough to base anything off of, even if he did feel something inside of him that he’d never experienced before.
“It’s not that simple.”
“It never is, but this time, you chose love, not the pack.”
Dennis looked at Frank, and he could see how happy Connie made him. It was like Frank was reborn, and it was impossible for him to not want the same for himself. Love and the right woman could change everything.
“I think I will, brother.”
“And I am going to give you just as much shit as you gave me.”
“I would expect no less.”
That made Frank laugh even harder, and again, Dennis felt like he was the butt of the joke. He didn’t like that but it wasn’t something that could be changed. He had been so simpleminded about it before. He deserved some blow-back.
The brothers went to the kitchen and made a late dinner. It was not a normal day, and Dennis needed to stay busy. He didn’t want to sit around listening to the women talk, so it was better if he had something to do.
Frank and Connie were perfect together, and he found himself watching them more. Dennis hadn’t been in a real relationship in years. It wasn’t even something that he knew how to do anymore.
Once the two finished talking for the night, both of them seemed to be in good spirits. He wanted to ask what was going on with the two of them, what they had talked about, but Dennis knew that it was too personal. He was walking her to the door. Jazz wanted to go to Cali’s to sleep.
“You can stay here, you know. The bed is already made upstairs for you. All you have to do is lie down.”
“All of my stuff is over there.”
“It’s just late. I didn’t think you would want to wake her up.”
Jazz looked at Dennis, a little surprised. He was trying to keep her there, and the need in his eyes told her why. It was intense, and she had to look away.
“I don’t want to impose…”
“You wouldn’t be. I was hoping we would have some time together.”
Jazz looked unsure. She bit the side of her bottom lip, and he had to check himself. He was watching her intently. Why was he so turned on right now? She had this come-hither look in her eyes and Dennis wanted to believe that it was for him. Every part of his body was awake.
“Stay, for just a little while longer. We’ll have some coffee or tea. Whatever you want.”
“I wouldn’t mind a real drink.”
“Even better.”
He was thinking that a little alcohol would make it easier to deal with whatever it was that was going on between the two of them. He wanted to believe that it would be easy; he would make his move, and she would go with it. What he didn’t see, though, was how hard it was going to be.
They went to the living room, and he made her a drink. It was his nerves that made his hands tremble as he poured, his needs that were making it impossible for him to think straight. He was playing it up in his head too much.
“Thanks, Dennis. I don’t know what I would have done without you there today. I know that it was hard to tell me about my family.”
“I wish I didn’t have such news. I would have liked this to have ended better for you.”
She agreed with the sentiment. “I do as well, but it’s better to know the truth. It’s better to know than to always wonder.”
She had a look on her face that he questioned. Was she trying to tell him something more? Was he supposed to make his move? It sure felt like that’s what she was saying. That’s what Dennis wanted her words to mean.
“Is there anything else that you wonder about?”
His eyes were on hers and she looked away. “Not at the moment. I think I wouldn’t be able to take anymore right now.”
That wasn’t what Dennis wanted to hear, but at the same time, he knew that he had to go with it. If she didn’t want to be with him, if she wasn’t ready, then he was going to have to live with it.
“You know, I would have asked Connie more, but I think what she was telling me was already enough to live with. I don’t know how she does it.”
“I think that having Frank helps out a lot.”
Jazz nodded her head. “Yeah, I saw that too. They are perfect for each other. I haven’t met a couple that was more right for each other.”
“I thought that they shouldn’t be together at first. Frank took a lot from me. I was very much against it, and he was the Alpha at the time. He gave it up to be with her.”
Jazz sighed like any woman would have sighed. Dennis saw it as foolish at the time, and still did at times. But all Jazz heard was that he had loved Connie enough to give it all up. It wasn’t romantic. It was foolhardy. Dennis was finding it hard to see it any other way.
“That’s so sweet.”
“Yeah, that’s what I hear.”
“You don’t agree with it? I mean, look at them. It’s obvious that they are perfect together.”
“They are, aren’t they? But that wasn’t what I saw at first.”
“You just saw her as a witch.”
Dennis agreed, even if he didn’t like the sound of it. Was it that simple? Was his head getting in the way? He didn’t want to think so, because that would mean that it was getting in the way now.
“Do you see me as just a witch?”
The look was unmistakable, and he could feel himself leaning over to give her a kiss. It wasn’t like Dennis hadn’t thought about it. He’d thought about it a lot, but at the end of the day, Dennis knew that he didn’t care what Jazz was. He just wanted her. It was that plain and simple.
Chapter Thirteen
Jazz saw the kiss coming and she didn’t move to get out of the way. It was a moment where time stood still, and his soft lips were insistent on hers. She wanted the moment to last forever and because of that, time didn’t stand still, but it slowed down to a pace that she could digest.
The manly scent reminded her of the woods and something feral. It smothered her and did something to the hormones in her body. She needed him suddenly and her body became easily pliable against his.
Jazz wanted to take a moment to be able to breathe. He was sucking the life out of her, and the very air from her lungs. She floundered and finally pushed back. It was too much, too soon, and she had to catch her breath.
“I love the way you taste, Jazz. I want more.”
His intent was clear, and she should have moved away, but she couldn’t help herself. She wanted him, badly, but there was something holding her back. Jazz didn’t move so fast, and she was finding it hard to slow him down. It was even worse trying to slow herself down. She didn’t want him to stop kissing her, but the feel of his hands squeezing her ass was just what she needed to call it off.
“Sorry, but this is way too fast.”
“Well, there is your answer.”
She was stunned by his abrupt end to the kiss. It’s what she said she wanted, but now Jazz was yearning for the warmth of his lips on hers again. Jazz leaned forward and almost kissed him herself.
“My answer to what?”
“To your question.”
Jazz was drawing a blank.
“You asked me if I still looked at
you like just a witch. I think you should have derived your answer from that.”
Jazz smiled and agreed. She had certainly decoded the message, but what did that mean?
“I thought you didn’t like witches? And you know now that I come from a long line of bad ones. Doesn’t that bother you? I don’t think I can pretend that you didn’t want to kick me out as soon as you sensed me.”
“A lot has changed since then.”
That was certainly true, but she was still trying to figure out what had changed. It didn’t make sense that she would feel the way that she did. She was dying inside, needing his lips back on hers, but what good would that do?
“And now you like me, so you can look past the whole witch thing?”
“It’s not like that. I don’t know why, but you’re just different. I warmed up to Connie, but that took time. You, it was almost immediate. When you still lived here, I wanted to keep you safe. You have always been a person that I’ve wanted to protect and take care of.”
Jazz didn’t know what to say about the last confession. She remembered him around, always watching what was going on like he was on guard duty. Jazz didn’t know what all of it meant, but she could see in his eyes that he was trying to keep her safe, even now.
“I am glad that you’re on my side, Dennis. It means a lot.”
“I want to be more than on your side, Jazz.”
She looked down and felt him pulling her closer. She thought that he would kiss her again, but instead, he whispered something in her ear that was far more devastating to her senses.
“I can’t wait to be inside of you. Only then will I have had my fill.”
He pulled back and kissed her on the cheek. “I think you should get some of that sleep you were talking about. I don’t know how good of company I am going to be. All I am going to want to do is jump your bones.”
A big part of Jazz wanted to stay and take him up on that offer. It wasn’t like she wasn’t hot and dying for it anyway. It was exactly what she wanted at the moment, and that was most likely due to the whispered words that were damaging her psyche.
Jazz went back to the room that she had stayed in the night before. She took off the dress that was a bit too small and was able to breathe again. Jazz didn’t like them all that well and vowed that tomorrow she would get something better to wear.
Now that she had her information, the real question was, how long was she going to stay? If she knew all she could know about her family, there was no real reason to stick around, was there?
She thought of Connie and knew that she was a good reason to stay a while longer. Jazz wanted to get to know her better, and since she was still learning the craft, there was a lot that she could teach her.
Jazz didn’t think about the other reason that she wanted to stay. It didn’t have anything to do with fear of her aunt. She wanted to stay away from her, but that didn’t mean that Jazz wanted to bring her problems to the pack. It was a lot to think about.
Then, she let herself think about Dennis, but just for a moment. What would happen between the two of them, if she stayed? Would it be all that she thought it would be, or would it be a disappointment?
There were too many variables, and Jazz didn’t know which choice was the best one.
Cali was up with the sun, and Jazz saw her sitting off on the porch by herself. It looked like she was doing some meditation and she did not want to disturb her. Jazz was about to turn around and walk away when Cali stopped her.
“Why would you come all of this way just to turn around, child?”
“Are you talking about just now or in general?”
The old woman opened her eyes and smiled. “Are you asking about what you learned of your family or about the man? You think it is time to leave already?”
“I am trying to find a reason to stay, Cali. I missed this place. I missed you.”
“None of those things have kept you before. Maybe this time it's different, because you have another reason to stay.”
She was almost afraid to ask what Cali was referring to. She had a good feeling about what would be said next. Cali knew who Jazz wanted to stay for. It was pretty obvious.
“Maybe I am looking for another reason to stay. The reason that I have in mind seems a little foolhardy. How do you see it?”
“I think he is a wise choice. I saw it coming many years ago. I was happy when you went off to be with your kind because I knew that you would learn some things before you came back. But I always hoped that you would come back when the time was right.”
Jazz had certainly not known. She would have never dreamed that she would be back in the shifter village again. It seemed surreal to her.
“I would have never guessed this.”
“Of course not. You were bound and determined to start your life with your own kind. I know that you had the best intentions, but sometimes fate does not give us a choice. You were meant to be here. There is a reason that you’re here, Jazz, with us.”
Jazz didn't know if she meant because of the stuff with her family or because of Dennis. She could almost believe that it was because of Dennis. Every time they were together, she just felt different. She felt desired and wanted and something else. Protected.
Finally, she just asked because Jazz knew that Cali had the foresight that she was looking for. Jazz wanted assurances that what she wanted to do would not blow up in her face. That was a hard thing to try and get. Assurances were few and far between.
“Am I supposed to be here because of Dennis?”
“He is certainly one of the reasons. The other reason is because of your sister Connie. Dahlia will also be brought into the mix. It is the power of you three that will help you ward off your enemies. One more will help guide you together.”
Jazz's face fell because she had a feeling, she knew who that enemy was.
“You're talking about my aunt, aren't you?”
“At first. There will be more to come. It is not just the blood in your veins that called them. Your sister has something of great importance that must be kept away from all witches, but especially your aunt. She would use it for a terrible evil, and we can't let that happen.”
“We?”
“Yes. Life will have a lot in store for you very soon. You should enjoy the quiet while you can because there is a storm brewing.”
As much as Jazz wanted not to understand the information she was given, she could understand it perfectly. It was crystal clear. Not only was she supposed to meet Dennis, but she was also going to be tested as well. All witches were tested.
“What if I leave?”
“Then she will find you.”
“And what if I stay?”
“He will fall in love, and she will find you.”
Jazz scoffed. It did not sound like very good odds to her. Either way, she was going to have to come face to face with her aunt, and that scared her. It wasn't because she was some big bad witch, though apparently, she was. It was more because Jazz might feel some sort of connection to her.
It wasn't like all of the bad things were done to her. Although from the sound of it, her aunt had killed her mother. It was all just conflicting emotions, and Jazz did not want to be faced with all of that in front of her aunt. She would surely try to take advantage of her angst, and Jazz was not sure that she would be able to resist it. Her mind kept going to the spell that Marl had put on the principal at her school.
“So, he will fall in love with me?”
Cali smiled. “That is what is important. And yes, I believe that he is already falling for you. It did not take long, because destiny has been pushing the two of you together for some time. No matter what you do, Dennis is going to be there. It is the way it is written.”
Jazz wanted to ask more questions, but there was a knock at Cali’s door, and she realized that she still wasn't dressed.
“I'm going to go get dressed really quick.”
Cali waved her off and told her that she would see to whoever
it was at the door.
“It’s just Dennis. He couldn't find you this morning and he was worried. See, he is adorable.”
There was a knowing look on her face, and Jazz tried to ignore it. She wasn't even going to wait around to see if it was Dennis. She knew that the old woman was right.
She was in the small room that Cali was letting her stay in. She had not stayed there the night before, but Jazz was sure that she would be there tonight. Even though Cali was convinced that Jazz and Dennis were meant to be together, Jazz was still not convinced of it. She did not like the idea of not having control of her own life. If and when she was with Dennis, it would be because of her own choice, not some cosmic thing that was pushing them together.
Jazz put on another dress, but this one fit better, and she was able to breathe. It was still form-fitting but it was also long enough and covered all of the necessary parts of her. Jazz took in her appearance, and she did notice something different in her eyes. There was a light that hadn’t been there before, and Jazz knew who had put it there.
When she came out, Cali had prepared everyone tea, and she took her place on a stool by the kitchen counter. Her tea was put next to Dennis’s. Jazz should have just left it, but she begrudgingly got up and went to sit next to him. Sometimes it was just easier not to make waves. Dennis didn’t notice the exchange, but the older woman was grinning as she returned to the kitchen.
“I was wondering where you were. I got up to make us some breakfast and I couldn’t find you anywhere. I was worried.”
“Why would you be worried?”
He was about to say something, and then he stopped like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to say it or not.
“I thought that you might have left me. I know that you were talking about going, and that’s where my mind went.”
“I am going to stay for a while, Dennis, but I don’t know for how long. To hear Cali talk about it, I am going to need to be here for what’s to come.”
