by Claudy Conn
She knew she shouldn’t stare at him, at his bulging biceps and the rune tattoo that made a band around each one. She couldn’t help it though, and her eyes traveled down his right arm to the wide leather bracelet he wore with the gold insignia depicting his royal house.
She felt his eyes on her and hurriedly looked away from the clinging blue T-shirt he wore over his tight, hard body but found her gaze once again meeting his.
What was she going to do? She was totally and forever taken by everything he was. She couldn’t seem to stop the ‘feeling’. Not even her years away at the university had helped to diminish the extent of what she felt for him.
She sighed and looked away from him. He, like her brother, had been players for so long, and she had suffered the vision of him with one woman after another.
After all, he was young, an infant by Fae standards, in fact. She didn’t know of a woman young or old that was immune to his quiet charm. He presented quite a picture.
She had tried not to want him. She knew that even if she were lucky enough to catch his interest, it would be an impossible situation. He thought of her only as a sister. He didn’t see the grown woman …would never see the grown woman.
She had taken care brushing her long red hair before she dressed in her tight jeans and a form-fitted white tank top. She gazed at herself in the mirror, and though too slim, she had full breasts, and the top she wore displayed them right fine. Surely enough to suggest she was no longer a ‘little girl’? Yet—she never caught him looking at her that way.
She couldn’t say he didn’t know about her crush—oh, he did, and she knew that he liked the fact that she had crushed on him all her life. She supposed he thought it his due. That thought made her smile. He was a cocky son-of-a-gun, but his gentle ways and insinuating charms made up for it. She became dreamy as she fantasized about what it would be like to be one of those women that caught his eye and landed in his bed. Her body flushed with heat as she thought of him lowering her to his bed!
Why wouldn’t it?
Look at him, damn, just look at that Fae. He stood well over six feet, lean and yet muscular. His dark blond hair was tied at the nape of his neck, but there wasn’t enough there to braid. His eyes always glittered silver, but warm red flames lit in their centers. His shadow beard was sexy as all get-out, and he was the only male she would ever want.
Wendy silently chided herself and looked away from him. She knew that although he enjoyed the fact that she’d been infatuated with him all these years, he did not feel the same. He was just out of her reach. He had always been out of her reach.
She straightened the treated wicker furniture on the front porch of the house she shared with her parents and brother. Home was so where she belonged. Here in the foothills just above Golden, in the Rockies of Canada, had always been home, and she loved it here—would never leave if she wasn’t hurting so much over Bray.
Graduating from the University at Banff had been surreal. She had really enjoyed college life and even, once she got used to being away from home, found that enjoyable as well. Living in a dorm with other young women her age … doing and feeling the ‘normal’ things … being the ‘normal’ she actually was not, had been great, and it had helped the empty sensation she felt when she thought of Bray—and she always thought of Bray.
Now she had the summer off and was back at her mountain home with her parents. She missed university life, but she had a great deal to look forward to, so no complaints.
She remembered how she had begged to be allowed to start the job she had landed as a computer webmaster at the major software company in Banff, but the powers that be insisted she start in the fall as a trainee in a new program they had registered her to complete. In the fall, she would be looking for a small apartment in Banff and move away … and should be happy about it, but she wasn’t, not if she was truthful with herself.
Life goes on, though, so here she was once again, and while she loved being home and helping her parents out with their business, once again, Bray was in her face nearly every single time she turned around.
Ooooh! How was she ever going to deal with this situation? It wasn’t that she didn’t like his company. She did. Too much. Way too much for comfort, and he … well, old story she couldn’t get away from. She had to start dating again. Her first attempts at it during college years had been a total failure. There were too this, or too that, or not enough of whatever! Why? Because none compared to her royal Fae. She had to stop comparing everyone she met to a prince of Fae.
In the last four years she had only had to endure his company when she was home for holidays and the occasional visits he and her brother paid her up at school. Now, at home, once again … he was everywhere, making her heart thump, making her womanhood crave, making her lean towards him and want him and …
Dammit all to hell! She almost said it out loud before she bit her tongue and stopped herself.
Would she never get over him? Would she always want just him and never even get to taste him—or kiss that mouth of his?
Well, maybe tasting him would ruin her for good. Maybe once she actually kissed her gorgeous Fae prince—and managed to seduce him—she would never want anyone else. Oh, the way he moved … his smile, his beautiful smile that lit up the world.
She was an idiot. He would never think of her as a woman. She should not wait for him. She should go out with the girls tonight and meet someone—someone who could give her a good time. She needed a good time, no strings attached. She was sick of being good and patient. That was it; she would give her friends a call and meet them in town for a drink and a ‘look’ around.
Yet, the thought of anyone else, being in anyone else’s bed, sickened her.
She had told her mother about this, and her mother had smiled and offered no help by telling her, “Time will tell.”
Time will tell? What did that mean? Tell what—when?
It was so darned depressing, because every single guy she met just couldn’t measure up to Bray. At this rate she would end up one day alone and a forty-year-old virgin.
Yes, depressing. Bray depressed her. And then she met his gaze once again, and his smile lit her up from the inside, and she was smiling right back at him.
He called, “Come on over here, Red … lend us a hand.”
‘Red’. He had nicknamed her that when she was still five. He had tugged on her flame-colored locks more times than she could count over the years, and she had never minded. He had a way of making her feel so special. He was the only one who called her Red, and she liked it still, but she couldn’t help but tell him as she walked over to him and her brother, “I have a name.”
“And a pretty one at that, Wendy,” Bray said and inclined his head.
Stevie snorted. “You are always on, dude. Give it up—it’s only my sister.”
Bray smiled. “The word ‘only’ doesn’t apply to her. She is one of a kind.”
Wendy felt her cheeks burn. He was only teasing because that was who he was—a complete charmer. She could have been an old hag, and Bray would have found something sweet to say. It was one of the things she loved about him.
“Come on. We don’t have much time, and I want to get this done. Tomorrow I have a full workload. Especially if you aren’t going to be around.”
Bray grinned. “I thought you were a full partner with your father? Seems like you work harder than ever.”
“Yeah, but … you know, I don’t mind. I love it all, and it’s nice.” Stevie shrugged. “Working with Dad is really nice.”
Bray sighed. “Yeah, I wish I could say the same, but working with my dad means attending council meetings. And besides that … well, never mind.” He pulled a face. “At any rate, I plan to be around here tomorrow, so you have help.”
“What do you mean, Bray—about your dad and the council meetings? Isn’t that important?” Wendy was surprised. She knew Bray adored his father.
“Well, you know he secured me what he calls a ‘float
ing’ position on the council. I can’t vote yet, but I can offer my opinions on different matters and insist the council consider those opinions.”
“So that’s good,” Stevie said. “What’s the problem, pal?”
Bray pulled a face. “My dad, not so much a problem as … well, you know, he is larger than life, Stevie, and don’t get me wrong, I am so proud he is my … but he is like not a hard act but an impossible act to follow.”
Stevie nodded. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
Wendy stuck in, “I guess … but you know, Bray, you don’t have to follow him. You can take your own road because you are pretty awesomesauce yourself.”
He grinned and teased by flexing a muscle and winking at her. “Yeah, but in Tir … everyone still looks at me as Prince Breslyn’s son. Hard to break out of that mold and not totally sure I want to.” He shrugged. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
Stevie went on to talk about their plans for the evening, and Wendy handed Bray the tool he needed as he bent back to the Harley engine.
She wanted to look away from him but couldn’t. As she watched him she realized she was licking her lips.
He looked up at her, with his dark blond forelock falling over his perfect eyebrows, and he winked at her. Winked?
Of course, it was a brotherly wink. She shouldn’t read too much into it even though it made her belly clench. It was ridiculous of course … the entire situation. She was a Fios like her mother, and Fios in ancient times were the only protection the villagers had against the Fae, as they were the only one that could see them through their Glamour or invisibility. A Fios and a Royal Fae?
Oh, but his eyes … even toned down by Human Glamour they were silver glitter and seemed full of warmth and humor. She knew he was a ‘chick magnet’, and he seemed right pleased with that position, so she was going to have to forget him by looking around for someone else.
Her brother broke into her thoughts as he and Bray fell into an easy discourse.
Stevie was, like his father, a Druid priest. He had trained for twenty years and now, just about to turn twenty-eight, was at full magical prowess.
Her magic, her Fios came from her mother, but what she had not told anyone was the fact that her father’s Druid blood was making itself known. Now and then she felt a surge of magic that was not Fios at all. Sooner or later she was going to have to ask her dad about it. She hadn’t actually trained, but she had watched Stevie go through training, and a great deal had registered in her brain.
As a Druid, Stevie was aligned with the Fae but couldn’t really see past their Glamour or invisibility. Her Fios was not aligned with the Fae, but her Druid blood changed all that automatically, she believed.
Her brother shoved his long auburn hair out of his handsome face, and she totally understood why the girls were near to fainting over him. She shook her head as she recalled how she had seen him and Bray turn heads wherever they went.
Only yesterday when Bray and Stevie stopped by the coffee shop to chat with her and two of her friends the place went into hyper-drive as the young women turned to stare.
Understandable. They both were sizzling hot, but Bray … well, there was no one like him!
Bray looked at her again, and she felt a blush steal into her cheeks. He grinned and asked, “What are you doing today, pretty Red?”
She shrugged. “Just hanging out here, I guess … I promised Mom to help her put up the early peas.”
“Well, make yourself useful … hand me the oil,” Bray said, and his smiled slew her.
She ignored her inner woman and sauntered over. “I am not your servant.”
He tugged a strand of her long hair. “Are you not, Red? I’ll have to remember that. Now, hand me the can of oil … that’s a love.”
She pulled a face at him and laughed good-naturedly. He was impossible to resist, so she handed him the oil can.
Stevie laughed and said, “We’re going to Apple Annie’s later for burgers and beer. Want to join us, Wendy?”
Wow, what a change, she thought as her eyebrows arched. Right up to her high school senior year, all her brother ever wanted to do was ditch her.
“Yeah, I do, but are you sure … you want me?” she answered doubtfully.
Stevie grinned. “Kate Murphy works there on the weekends, and you two are good friends—right?”
Wendy grimaced and clucked her tongue. “Oh, I should have known.”
Bray laughed. “I want you to come, and I have no ulterior motive.”
Her heart caught in her throat, and she found his eyes. “Really?”
“Really, Red, really.” He laughed.
“Okay then, I will come, but there is something I wanted to mention to you,” Wendy said.
“What?” Bray asked and took a minute to study her face.
“There is this guy … Cain Crowton …”
“Is he bothering you?” Stevie’s attention was caught, and both he and Bray frowned.
“No, no … I only saw him once and from a distance, but … some of my friends—”
“Wendy!” her mom called.
“Later … I better go,” she said and turned.
“Eight … we’ll leave at eight,” her brother called after her.
“I’ll be half starved by then,” she said over her shoulder, laughing.
“Good … because I mean to feed you and fatten you up. You could use a pound or two,” Bray said.
She felt his eyes on her back as she walked away and wondered at it. No doubt, he was concerned in a brotherly fashion, nothing else.
*** *** ***
About Claudy Conn
Claudy Conn, a native New Yorker, now lives with her husband, Bob; their wolf, Cherokee; and Cherokee’s son, Rocky Man, who weighs in presently at 190 pounds.
She loves horses and riding and raised her ten-year-old gelding Southern Pride from the moment he was born. She also loves gardening, swimming, skiing, hiking, and travel—and of course, reading, writing, but no, she says, no arithmetic!
To get her monthly news, her reviews for all her new paranormal romances, and excerpts, come on and visit her at her website: http://www.claudyconn.com
To see pictures of Cherokee—and her shepherd-wolf son!—have a look at her Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Claudy-Conn-Paranormal-Romance-Author/135826686471445
Read more about Claudy Conn’s books
available at smashwords.com
Awakening Series
Harley—Awakening (Novella)
Harley vows to avenge the destruction of her family, her clan, her life—and the vampire–white witch hybrid doesn’t want revenge served up cold. She wants to serve it up herself, she wants to serve it up now, and she wants to serve it up HOT.
Legend Series
Spellbound—Legend
Maxie is a reluctant heroine who travels to Scotland to find and save herself. Julian is a Druid priest in a modern age, and he is full of guilt. Can Maxie turn to him? Or will she turn to Prince Breslyn, a Royal Fae hunk offering her everything?
Shee Willow—Legend
Half-human, half-Fae Willow Lang has never felt she truly fit in either world, but she’s doing her best to ignore her Fae nature. But when she finds herself in the middle of a conflict between the Seelie Fae and the evil Dark Fae, she must embrace her Fae powers in order to protect the Human Realm.
Prince in the Mist (Novella)
Fact one: By tradition and treaty, Fae do not interfere with the human world—it is against the rules. Fact two: For a Royal Fae prince who suffers from the ennui of immortality, watching and interacting with humans—especially lovely, spirited human females—can be entertaining. Fact three: When entertainment changes to affection, and affection becomes love, rules will be broken.
Prince Prelude—Legend
In this stand-alone tale and the backstory for the Legend series, we find ourselves in 1814. Gais and the prince come head to head over a woman. We will see Lamia DuLaine
when she first sees Julian Talbot, and we will meet the first Maxie Reigate. Come along and see their world unfold …
Aaibhe—Shee Queen (Novelette)
This is a love story but it is fringed with envy, jealousy, and bitterness—oh and more. It is laced with the havoc those devastating emotions can bring. It is about the seeds of hate born of love, and what chaos that hate can wantonly roar over even immortals. This is a story of Aaibhe, Queen of the Seelie Fae, because she deserves that it be told.
Trapped—Legend
Magical powers, a castle, and a charming prince sound like the ingredients for a fairy-tale life, but for BJ Mulroy reality turns out to be a whole lot more complicated. The war between the Seelie and the Unseelie is heating up, BJ has been drawn into the fray … and there’s the matter of the seventeenth-century hunk in the painting.
Free Falling—Legend
They call her Z, and she is a handful ready to explode. She has entered the war against Gais and the Dark Fae and means to take him on all by herself. She is driven. Aaibhe, Queen of the Seelie Fae, has other plans, and she sends in Prince Danté to execute and preserve her wishes. When Z and the prince meet, hackles go up on both sides.
Catch & Hold—Legend
Half-human/half-Daoine Fae Radzia MacDaun—Z to her friends—finds herself in the Dark Realm, where she’ll have to fight Gaiscioch on his own turf. Danté, Prince of the Tuatha Dé and Z’s lover, is not about to let her face this danger alone, however, and the two of them are thrust on a ride that takes them to the edge of life as we know it …
Through Time Series
Through Time-Pursuit
Revenge is the driver. Will love be the equalizer in Through Time—Pursuit? Milesian immortal Chance LeBlanc and Fae Princess Royce are about to find out in this contemporary fantasy romance that picks up where Catch & Hold—Legend left off.