LOGIN***FionaI couldn’t return his gaze. Not the next morning nor the day after. I tossed and turned in bed, struggling to stop my head from drifting to thoughts of his mouth… his hands. Remembering the way it felt to have his touch. The sounds he drew from my mouth. Knowing he was just below those stairs, sound asleep in that fitted white tee and gray sweatpants. A few feet away and willing to give me everything I wanted.There were no words. No way to explain why I ran out… without having to show him. Anguish rolled through me in shallow, self-deprecating waves. I wanted to scream; I wanted to shout from the top of my lungs. How was I supposed to ever be naked with a man again? Even after running away, Greyson still had this power over me, this invisible noose still hanging around my neck.But Julian… he didn’t make me feel insecure or embarrassed. It felt effortless with him. Easy. And he was so tender, so gentle, all the while keeping that hint of gruffness about him that I secretly a
***JulianBourbon sloshed the bottom of my glass and I threw back a shot as Fiona curled up on the floor in front of the fireplace, teetering among the shelves of books. I sat in the armchair next to her, trying to focus on the novel in front of me. But the task was impossible with her so close.The very thought of someone trying to hurt her, to take her away, had me on edge. I just wanted to protect her… to hold her close. I clenched my fist, straining against the urge to pick her up and throw her onto my bed.I poured another shot. And then another.Fuck it.Heat burned the inside of my chest and warmth radiated. I felt need and want and worry, all the sensations simultaneously flushing every extremity. I stood; my shadow cast against the wooden panels from the flickering flames.I walked over to where she sat. Her shoulders tensed but she didn’t turn around. Slowly, I knelt behind her, lowering my mouth softly to her ear.“Take off your sweater. Show me your wound,” I husked, voice
***FionaWater beaded from his chest as steam slipped out the opened bathroom door; a towel tucked securely around his waist. It hung low around his hips, low enough that I could see the abdominal muscles bridging towards something… much more enticing.I darted my eyes away but still couldn't keep from glancing over as I chewed the inside of my cheek, trying to keep the heat from flushing to my face.I had never seen him shirtless before. He always wore several layers of clothing. And the view was better than I imagined. His hardened chest ridged like a plate of armor. Abs stenciled with toned muscles grooving over every inch of his torso.His forearms bulged; tattoos etched over his arms, casting full artwork on both sleeves. He ran his hands through his wet tousled hair as dark strands frayed along his fingertips.“Now that’s a man,” Kaia purred inside of me. Again I averted my gaze, drawing back to the book in my lap, yet unable to concentrate on any of the words in front of me.An
***Fiona“Storm is coming in. I’ll be gone most of the day. Need to stock up before it hits. Not sure how long we’ll be trapped in here,” Julian said as he worked to prepare his pack, complete with his hunting and snow gear.He had been sleeping on the couch for a couple weeks now. Not once did he ask for his room back. He’d come in to grab some things here and there but never complained. Nor had he asked when Kaia and I were leaving. I knew in the back of my mind we would have to go at some point. Couldn't stay here forever.But today wasn't the day.I waved my hands in front of him and dashed to grab a paper. A stack of neatly lined sheets now sat on the corner of the kitchen table next to a jar of pens and freshly sharpened pencils. He chuckled.“Can I come?”His brows turned upward. My shoulder was completely healed now. Only a faint scar remained on both sides from the missed arrow. The one intended to kill me.“You sure? You want to come hunting with me?” he questioned but seemi
***FionaI looked out the window, watching as snow fell like soft silk petals, blending into the white winter abyss below. Calm. Soothing.My breasts heaved, hidden under the hovel of clothing. My mind went to Julian. When we were in the kitchen together, he was so close and his hand felt safe and secure against mine. His touch sent sweet tendrils of warmth up my arms.My fingers brushed against my parted mouth. I wet my lips.This was dangerous. This was… unexpected.After everything I had been through, the furthest thing from my mind was finding a connection with a man. To feel something with another person. To trust another person. But maybe this was the connection I needed. It had been so long since I had a bit of kindness. Genuine, sincere kindness. But with a human?The other had been cruel. Callous and calculating. Only one other man had ever had me. But after the beatings, the torture... the rapes, I tried to refuse the mate bond. The punishment I received for such a refusal.
***JulianTwo nights had passed, and she still hadn’t returned.What an ass. What an incredible dick I was to her.The crippling pain in her face... guilt swelled in my chest. And it wasn’t a moment before that I was counting the blanket of scars chiseled into her back, wishing I could take that pain away from her. And what did I go and do? Scold her like a child when she had done nothing wrong. At no point had I warned her about the writing, about Mae’s diaries.I shook my head, burying it between my clammy palms. Every morning at sunrise, I went out looking for her and again in the late afternoon around sunset. I knew she was a wolf but didn’t like her out there on her own. She was still healing. And what did that mean for her wolf? Wouldn’t her wolf be wounded as well?Well, I blew it. What were the odds that she would ever come back? She was probably halfway on the other side of the mountain at this point.The sun illuminated the snow capped peaks as it brimmed the closing horizon







