Under a Raging Moon: Part One

by V. J. Chambers

CHAPTER THREE

  The rest of the evening passed as if nothing had happened between us, which was even more confusing for me. Kale finished his dinner, left me to stack the dishwasher, and disappeared into his room. I spent the next few hours trying to compose myself. I wasn’t sure how to feel about what happened.

  As an attempt to get closer to Kale, it seemed to have failed miserably. It was almost as if he’d done it to re-establish his aloofness. I’d been getting under his skin, asking about his girlfriend, and he’d fucked me and put me in my place. I’d had power over him, and he’d taken it back.

  I was frustrated, and I wanted to strangle him.

  I spent hours seething, thinking about how I was never going to find that necklace, how I’d let him have sex with me for nothing.

  But later, he found me in my bedroom, where I was fuming.

  He was only wearing a robe. “Stay with me tonight,” he said.

  It was an order, not a request, but my heart leapt just the same. Maybe I actually was getting somewhere with this guy.

  He seemed different with the lights off, both of us in his bed. He pulled me into his arms, kissing the top of my head, and held me close. We didn’t have sex again. We just went to sleep. And there was something very, very nice about it. All my anger towards him melted away in the circle of his arms. I felt safe and cherished there, even if it was only happening because of a ruse.

  The next morning was Saturday, and we both slept late.

  Kale woke me up kissing me.

  It was the first time he’d done it, I realized. We’d fucked the night before, and he’d put his lips on my neck and shoulders, but never on my lips. He had very nice lips, and he was a good kisser. I liked waking up here, to his smooth, angled chest, his strong, lean arms around me, his mouth on mine.

  He pulled away. “It’s been a long time since there was a woman in my bed.”

  I bit my lip. “I’m honored.”

  He tried a smile. “It’s just a little odd for me. I can’t help but thinking of her.”

  “The person you lost?”

  “Yes. Her name was Lila, and she always wore this necklace, even when she went to sleep. I can’t help picturing her here, looking up at me, wearing that necklace.”

  Holy shit. I tried not to look too eager. “What happened to it?”

  He furrowed his brow. “To the necklace?”

  Fuck. That was stupid of me. That was a suspicious fucking thing to say. When the necklace went missing, he was going to know right off that I was the one—

  The doorbell rang.

  Kale sat up.

  It rang again.

  “I should, um, see who that is,” he said.

  I nodded. Saved by the doorbell.

  Kale got up out of bed, threw on his robe, and sauntered out of the bedroom.

  I lay back, clutching the covers, wondering how I could have said something so stupid. It was going to take forever to try to get the subject back to that necklace now without blowing everything.

  I could hear Kale’s voice carrying through the house. He sounded angry. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? You can’t just barge in here.”

  Another voice. Male. “They come to me about issues with the full moon, and I’ve never had an issue. That’s all you, man.”

  Hmm. This had to be about werewolves, then, did it?

  Kale again. “Oh, don’t try that. This is about Lila, and you and I both know it. You always want to come in here and lord over me the fact that she was with you when she died. But she was pregnant with my child, don’t forget it. Any momentary weakness she had—”

  “Weakness? She left you. She picked me. And, besides, this has nothing to do with her. It’s about the conclave that’s all.”

  Wait. This Lila person had been with another guy besides Kale? Well, hell, maybe the necklace was with him.

  I got out of bed and threw on another of Kale’s robes. I tiptoed out to the door, which was open. I peered outside.

  But Kale and the other guy were down the hall. I couldn’t see them.

  “If the conclave has a problem with me,” said Kale, “then they can come and talk to me themselves. I seriously doubt they’d send you as their lap dog.”

  I started down the hallway.

  “They didn’t send me, they came and accused me of doing shit that I know you did. You’re the one who likes to take off his human skin and run around under the moon for fun. You’re the one who’s putting this whole community in danger.”

  I got to the end of the hallway and looked around the corner.

  “I’m discreet,” said Kale. “And anyway, what I do on my own property is none of your business.”

  Oh.

  Oh, God.

  I recognized the other man who was in the house. It was Hudson Slade, looking just as sexy as he had when I ran from his truck the day before.

  I made a little noise of surprise.

  Hudson looked up.

  I tried to duck back into the hallway.

  But I wasn’t fast enough, because he saw me. He saw me in one of Kale’s robes, with my hair all mussy from sleep, and his eyes widened. He could tell that I’d slept with Kale, and I could see the hurt and confusion on his face.

  Damn it.

  Here I was, involved with two guys, either of which could have the necklace that I needed to steal.

  And I was pretty sure both of them were going to be pissed at me.

  Want more?

  Check out the next installment of Under a Raging Moon, which is nearly four times as long as this one.

  Find links here.

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  Also, check out the story of Piper’s parents, Cole and Dana. The first book in the trilogy is currently FREE. Find links here.

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