โHow do you know that?โ Darius asked. โNever mind.โ Daniel asked. โYou hear that?โ โYeah.โ Elias leaned in to tell Rihanna the bad news, โBoracayโs six hours away.โ She blanched. โYeah, how about Hongkong?โ More chair jumping and she covered her mouth so as not to squeal for the second time. โYouโll need a passport,โ Daniel reminded him. โHeโs got one from when he went to London for that British chick,โ Darius said. Elias didnโt share that forgettable fact with Rihanna, but he did ask her, โYou have a passport?โ She nodded and he had to shove down the jealous rush that jumped up as he imagined her with some French dude in Paris. This woman has me by the balls. He coughed and muttered, โHongkong it is. Cover for me?โ โFor a honeymoon?โ Alessandra asked. โNo!โ Elias interjected before Daniel had a chance. โWe are NOT getting married.โ Rihanna emphatically shook her head. โNO! Tell them we are NOT.โ He smiled at Daniel, โSo, youโve got it covered, yeah?โ
Feeling herself start to throb, she nodded and swallowed, eyes falling to his engorged cock. He caught her look and palmed himself, then standing at the edge of the bed, grabbed one of her legs and pulled her to him. Within two seconds, her dress was off and his eyebrows shot up. โNo underwear?โ She shrugged and grinned at him flirtatiously. โI knew it would be hot.โ โItโs fucking hot alright,โ he said, thickly, running rough hands all over her body. She chuckled, โNo I mean hot hot.โ He met her eyes and climbed on top of her until she had lowered herself, lying beneath him with her hair fanned out on the red comforter. โI know what you mean.โ Electricity shot down her legs as his fingers discovered her pussy. โYouโre wet for me already.โ A different kind of smile lit up his face and he leaned down to whisper in her ear, giving her soft lobe a tender lick. โI can smell when you want me, by the way.โ โYou can?โ she asked, surprised. โMmmhmm,โ he murmured into her n
He faced her and held up a hand. โIt is going to be a little scary at first. Iโm nervous myself, so I can only imagine how you feel.โ โIโm excited,โ she grinned. He laughed at that. โWell, letโs wait and see what you think afterward.โ โWill you able to hear me?โ He blinked, just then understanding how little she knew. โYeah. Iโve got complete control. Weโre one and the same. Itโs really not like in the horror films. Itโs just my primal side has a face.โ She gave a short, expectant nod. He walked to stand in front of her, stripping off the faded blue jeans heโd worn also on the day they arrived. He had on a chocolate-brown button-up shirt for the dinner, and he undid each button slowly, holding her eyes. โIโve never done this.โ โNeither have I.โ She offered him an encouraging smile and kicked her feet. Heโd been shifting of his own accord since age twelve and the years had made the motion smooth and not at all painful. He liked to do it, he needed to express both pa
After a half hour of hair combing and putting it up, then back down, putting on only lipstick then rethinking it and doing her whole face, scrubbing her armpits in the bathroom sink, anything she could think of. Rihanna let Alessandra help her into the dress she was not getting married in. It fit her very snugly, but she loved it. โDid he buy this?โ Alessandra nodded zipping up the back and surveying the result in the mirror. Rihanna looked beautiful as she slipped on the strappy silver heels and turned to see her reflection. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and her eyes were so bright! โAre you sure I shouldnโt wear my hair up? I think itโฆโ She caught Alessandraโs gaze in the mirror and pointed at her. โStop crying!โ Rihanna shoved down the rush of tears that threatened to explode from her, too. โOh my God, Zandra! Iโm not getting married today!โ โI know!โ Her heart was so scared yet so full, she didnโt know what to do with herself. โWhere do I go now? What do I
He stepped onto De la Rosa Avenue as memories flooded him of the last time heโd seen his gorgeous cunt-whore ex. Her long flaxen hair blew in the Atlantic breeze as she gazed at the ocean, waves lit mystically by a new moon. Her green eyes were darker in the low light. There was something behind them that should have had him worried. โAre you feeling better?โ heโd asked, walking out to stand beside her. Theyโd borrowed a friendโs place in the Hamptons and it was only their first night there. He couldnโt wait to tear off her yellow, cotton sundress, but sheโd demurred, claiming a stomachache. Then sheโd come out here. Like she hadnโt heard the question she stared ahead, high tide waves crashing eight short feet away. He glanced to the wood floor beneath their bare feet and saw in his periphery, her orange-painted toenails wiggling. It occurred to him then that maybe she wasnโt truly ill after all; maybe something greater was on her mind. With his supernatural hearing, he list
Stepping onto Seventh Avenue, she paid the cabbie and told him, โThank you for being so fast.โ Her eyes were already fixed on her reason for coming, the building sheโd secretly helped come to fruition. She hadnโt dared drive by it since theyโd broken up and had avoided it like the plague, but tonight she felt drawn to it. This building. She had a large part in making it happen. Donald, Darius, Elias, and Danielโ the architects of D.D.D.E. Inc.โwould never know that, but she knew it. Thatโs what mattered. As pedestrians crossed her path behind and in front, Catherine gazed up at the structure towering above, marveling at what they had accomplished. It was one of many, now, designed by them, but it had been the springboard. The beginning of their success. Sheโd read mentions of their firm in the paper a few times over the years since theyโd been apart. It seemed he and his talented friends were making a quiet but very important splash with green design. How exciting that must be!
They sat in silence as two more rounds went by. Daniel and Elias would have sat quietly with him, too, although maybe Elias would have tried to make him laugh. Heโd have succeeded but it would not have been an easy undertaking for both of them. Elias was the least patient with Donaldโs hatred of women. Well, hatred was maybe too harsh a wordโฆbut he sure didnโt trust them. And all because of the flaxen-haired beauty whose ghost just ripped him to shreds all over again. Donald sighed, motioning for the bartender to come over. โAnother round?โ she asked without emotion of any kind. โNo,โ Donald muttered. โJust the check. But use this card. Not the one he gave you.โ He handed her a black American Express card. Darius objected, โD, let me get this for you.โ โNo. But thank you. Forโฆyou know.โ The bartender glanced between them with a smile and turned to run the card. When she brought it back, she said, โSo youโre not a jerk after all.โ Donald just snarled at her until s
Donald started laughing, which for him was one guffaw followed by a shake of the head on a low, lingering chuckle. He stared at the screen and dried himself off with the enormous towel, thinking about what he wanted to do. Bending over, he typed the best idea heโd ever thought of. Leaving town for a few days. Going to the woods. The phone is dead. Iโll be fine. Donโt wait up. โ D He waited for the responses he knew would bounce back immediately. His packmates didnโt let him down. โThatโs awesome.โ โGet a new phone before you go.โ โIf youโre lying and hiding out in your apartment for 3 days, youโre a bigger pussy than I think you are.โ His group emailed them one last time. Darius, stop watching โSupernatural.โ Dean is not a good role model for vocabulary choices. Daniel, Iโm a big boy. Iโll be fine. You know this. Elias, fuck off you dickhead. I adore you, too. Leave Rihanna for me and itโs on. He grinned and turned off the computer, dropped the towel over the back
Thalia grinned and nodded, biting her bottom lip. Donald opened the door for them. โAllow me.โ Darius gave him a look that said everything about how he felt, that his best friend was finally on board for his happiness. โThank you.โ He received a small chin dip in response. As the group filed in, another couple was leaving, big smiles on their faces, too. Darius watched them go. Elias stepped around to practically attack the County Clerk. โHey! Weโre back!โ The manโs eyebrows shot up as his eyes darted around the approaching faces. He lit up with recognition. โAh yes! How could I forget?โ A big smile spread. โI was wondering if weโd see you again,โ the female employee said. She served as witness and recorded the events as well. She flushed as Elias remarked on her new hairstyle. Then he turned around and grabbed his wife. โLook baby. We left an impression. They remember us.โ Daniel snorted and entwined his fingers with Alessandraโs. โCould have been us who left t
Daniel smiled. โI knew what you were going through. Remember?โ Darius nodded. โThatโs whatโs been on my mind. Iโm sorry we werenโt there to help you.โ Daniel shrugged and glanced around his friendโs faces. โThere was no choice.โ โYeah. Now I understand.โ Darius took a sip of Guinness. โI want to go see her.โ โWell, letโs at least finish our beers first.โ Elias clinked his bottle of Bass Ale against Dariusโs pint. โRemember just days ago how you were complaining we never spend any time together?โ Darius laughed and a huge weight lifted. โYouโve got a gift, Elias.โ โThank God Iโve got one,โ Elias said, dryly. So they stayed for another two hours, like the old days. Daniel yanked out his phone and called his driver. โNigel, buddy. Weโre hammered. Come get us.โ They climbed out of the dark booth and headed for the door. Elias and Daniel led the way, Donald behind. โHey, D. I idolize you, just so you know.โ Donald cocked an eyebrow sideways. โIs that right?โ
Three very different guffaws trailed off as the others left the room, talking amongst themselves about how strange that had been for them. The last one she heard was Elias. โSo, Donald, youโre saving it for a special woman, huh?โ and Donaldโs reply: โFuck off.โ Darius loosened his embrace but kept her close. She looked up at him as he gazed down at her. โYou said you love me.โ She flushed. โI was having a moment.โ โA moment?โ โYeah.โ A small frown pierced his brow and he lifted her off the ground, kissing her deeply. Every cell in her responded to him, and then he moaned against her lips, โI love you, too.โ Soundless tears trailed her cheeks before she even realized how much emotion had been waiting under the surface. All her life sheโd wanted to meet the guy and here he was. Finally. He kissed some away, picked her up and carried her to the couch. โWe have to talk business now.โ She nodded and picked up the blanket to wrap around her waist so she could hike up
He dropped the hand and turned back to his friends and packmates. They were speechless, too, their moment of entertainment usurped by the bold pronouncement. Theyโd seen it coming, but that heโd said it aloud, outright and so soon, shocked them all. Maybe even him a little, too. There would be no stupid debate. Not anymore. Heโd heard enough arguments from Donald. What good were they? Not only had he dreamed of saving her life before it actually happened, thereby telling him she was a part of his destiny, but today his wolf had taken control for two reasons: how he felt about her, and also because there was another wolf inside the โdenโ when she arrivedโDonald. The beast inside Dariusโs soul who knows what is best for him more often than he knows, took her immediately to mark her as his. Sheโd gotten her instinct right about his bite. His wolf needed to ensure there was never any question as to whose mate she was. That sheโd accepted him so readily affirmed she felt the same. Who has
Thalia had been climbing out of her skin. Underneath everything sheโd done was the nagging desire to check up on him. She hadnโt mentioned the robbery to Jonas. The air of secrecy among Darius and his friends combined with her aiding the hero of the day in his odd escape, made her keep her mouth very, very shut. How would she explain to police what had happened, if they ever questioned her? The fewer people who knew about what happened the better. And Jonas wasnโt exactly the quiet type. Nor were his friends. They lived big, and a story like this? Too hot to keep mum about. She was loath to admit that she didnโt just want to check up on his well being, she wanted to be around him again. She missed the connection sheโd experienced when they were alone in the ally. Sheโd replayed those intimate moments with him over and over despite her desperate desire to let it go. She hesitated with her fist in the air and ready to knock. Her heart slammed in her chest. She didnโt even know if
Fuck it. She leaned in and softly kissed him. His lips parted in surprise as she pulled away. She whispered in his ear, just for him, โThank you for saving my life.โ โThank you for trusting me.โ She arose and headed for Elias who was by the door. She didnโt need him to tell her, โIโll take you home.โ She nodded and it struck her that he seemed like a statue. She glanced back to Daniel, then grazed a glance over Donaldโs solemn countenance. They suddenly seemedโฆ inhuman. โIt was nice to meet you.โ They nodded and murmured the same. Rihanna and Alessandra looked the most uncomfortable. Donโt make me go home. Let me stay here and take care of him. Let me tell him Iโm here for him. Iโm here. Iโm hereโฆ Makati City sparkled outside the limoโs window as they drove west to her small apartment, flashes of blurred color zipping by. She couldnโt see any of it. Her mind was on him. โYouโre awfully quiet,โ Elias said after theyโd been silent for a long time. She glanced ov
Donald sighed and said with more control, โWe donโt do the stuff.โ Drugs have a different reaction on werewolves than humans. But he couldnโt explain that. At her confusion, Daniel interjected with authority, โItโs not ego. We donโt take pain meds. Just accept it.โ Darius watched Thalia glance around his packmatesโ faces. He couldnโt blame her for not understanding. How would he feel if he were on the other side of this? She tightened her jaw and shrugged with defeat. โFine. If youโve done this before, Iโm sure you have twelve inch long tweezers?โ โIโve got better than that.โ Donald returned a moment later with a kit that made Thalia pause, full of surgical tools, gauze, Aloe Vera gel, and wood clamps to bite down on. They even had teeth marks in them. โIโm not even going to ask,โ she muttered, choosing a very slender metal piece that looked to be an advanced type of tweezer. โYou ready?โ โOver my dead body youโre doing the removal,โ Donald growled. Darius grabb
Fear-charged shouts came from the woman and the boy, begging to know if he was okay. The woman yelled to the man behind the register, โCall the police!โ โIโm calling an ambulance!โ He shouted back. โNo!โ the wounded man groaned, speaking only to Thalia as if he needed her to understand. โDonโt let him,โ he whispered, leaning down to her ear. She pressed her hand over his, adding more pressure to stop the bleeding. โWe have to get you to a hospital.โ โNo,โ he whispered, closing blue eyes against the pain. He bent at the knees, and she caught him. Years of working with patients had prepared her for his collapsed. โIโm a nurse. I know what Iโm talking about.โ โThen get me out of here,โ he whispered in her ear, again so low nobody else could have heard. She stared into the future and the immediate past, making a decision. Heโd saved her life. She owed him. He seemed desperate not to go. Praying she was doing the right thing, she called out to the others, โDonโt call
The buzzer from Room 321 had been quiet for a long time. Too long. With her eyes on the room, Thalia rose from the desk and headed to check on Dorothy. Janet called over, โIs that old bitty at it again?โ โWhy donโt you crawl back under the house,โ Thalia shot back. Lacking a witty enough response, Janet just sneered. As she walked into the room, Thaliaโs heart exploded. Paler than a sheet of paper, Dorothy stared lifeless into the distance. Thalia pulled back the hospital gown and started pounding on Dorothyโs frail chest, screaming loud enough the entire third floor could hear, โJANET! GET A DOCTOR! CODE BLUE! CODE BLUE!โ Her eyes darted to the monitor. It was off, the plug lying on the floor. โCome on Dorothy! Donโt you die on me!โ Thalia leaned down to blow into quiet lungs as Janet ran in with a defibrillator machine. Bitch or no bitch, when shit hit the fan, Janet was ready. She charged the machine while Thalia pounded an artificial heartbeat into Dorisโs chest, pe