Charisse stopped humming and went very pale. “Teenage years?” Oh Goddess, the horror.
“Yes and we’re going to need to present a united front so let’s take the rest of this conversation elsewhere.”
Dazed still, Charisse nodded, looking down as Nate captured her hand.
“You need to ask her to send us back where she found us.”
They both felt Bettina balk at the idea.
Charisse knelt down, placing her palm gently on the rock, sending soothing thoughts to Bettina and the promise of a swift return. Thankfully Nate still had hold of her hand because abruptly she found the two of them back once more on the back deck of her house overlooking the beach. Wow, that was new, Bettina letting her go.
Beside her Nate laughed and then said the four words in the English language guaranteed to send her nuclear.
“I told you so.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
She’d kicked him out.
Nate couldn’t believe it as he thrust his foot down hard on the accelerator and sent the jeep into a sliding turn, just missing the left-hand post at the end of his driveway by inches. Of course she’d kicked him out… when it came to Cyd it was like he was starting at ground zero. A hundred years of smooth moves, effortless flirting, well timed compliments and come hither quirks of the eyebrow just flew out the window.
Seemingly along with his common sense, what had he been thinking? Saying - I told you so? It was a rookie mistake of epic proportions… earthquake, resulting in tsunami, bad.
He had no defence, he’d taken one look at Cyd’s psyche upon their return to her cottage and he’d been unable to keep his trap shut. The evidence was all there in vivid technicolour detail, Cyd’s beautiful soul, those glorious golds, bold reds and vivid greens wrapped tentatively, but securely, around Bettina, now nesting peacefully at her core. He’d been right, Maat damn it. Yeah, because every woman loved to hear that.
From the get go, he’d sworn he’d stay out of it, but he couldn’t help himself, could he? It was Cyd. She tied him up in knots, had him speechless, had him second guessing himself. Maat, in over a hundred years, no woman… ever, had affected him like Cyd. He was jealous for Maat’s sake, of the shirtless himbo with the dimples and tousled blonde romance cover looks.
He thought he’d imagined his reaction to the wannabe male model the other night, passing it off as adrenalin, but now… a growl sounded from the back of his throat. He’d never been jealous in his very long life. If this was being in love, then he did not get it. How had Vaughn managed it so effortlessly… for that matter, Drum? The man barely said a handful of words a year and he’d only needed four days to convince Nell to marry him.
Cyd knew he cared, wasn’t that enough? He’d told her about the kids… their kids. It was blatantly obvious what their next step should be, wasn’t it?
With a frustrated sigh he bought the jeep to a halt and slammed out the vehicle… okay, new plan. He’d give her a day to cool down and then he’d approach her and… what exactly? Tell her that her hair reminded him of a glossy blanket of simmering fire when the sun hit it? That her eyes were limpid pools reminiscent of tropical waters beckoning him to dive into their depths?
Yeah right, because she hadn’t heard every half-assed lame compliment going already a hundred times over. Maat, how was he going to fix this? Climbing the rickety, in need of replacement stairs to the front door, he ran his fingers through his hair, think man. You have a day to come up with a plan to sweep Cyd off her feet and make her admit that she loved him and that they belonged together.
He was so busy running through possible scenarios he didn’t notice the wall of boxes in the front foyer until he almost ran into them. What the…?
Where had all these boxes come from? Why were they in his house? And who the fuck did they belong too? He stared at the labels; kitchen, living room, library… huh, now he came to look at them, these boxes were distinctly familiar.
Suddenly the tight band around his chest loosened, he was pretty fucking sure these boxes belonged to Cyd. And if her boxes were here, then…. that meant, the sound of feet stomping down hard on floorboards sounded from overhead… Cyd was here!
He sidled past the boxes, racing up the stairs, taking them four at a time. He slammed to a stop in the master suite doorway, his fingers digging hard into the doorframe. Thank Maat, it was true, she was here. Wearing nothing but a bright blue silk robe, her hair half up, a few tendrils curling around her neck, still damp from the shower she’d just stepped out of. He couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he watched, mesmerised, Cyd stomping back and forth on bare feet across the recently polished dark wood floors.
The bedroom was still in disarray, more so, since there was a pile of luggage and boxes against one wall next to a wire clothes rack that Cyd was currently filling as she sorted through clothes, grabbing hangers from a large waiting pile.
She sent him an annoyed look. “Took you long enough.”
“Ur… sorry about that.” He had to bite his tongue from mentioning that he was pretty sure, in his total disgust at himself, he’d broken every speed limit there was getting home.
“And it was a stupid dumb ass thing that you said to me.” Charisse followed up with a green eyed glare of total disgust.
He nodded quickly in agreement. “Yes, it was.”
“And in the future, you’re going to have to find a way to compliment me that isn’t lame, trite or sickly sweet. A girl likes to be appreciated. I just don’t want to be smothered.”
“Agreed.” He nodded again.
“Okay.” She studied him with suspicion, he was being awfully agreeable. In fact he was starting to remind her of a bobble head doll. “And no putting me up on a pedestal or treating me like spun glass. I’m not some perfect princess.”
“Absolutely.”
Charisse eyed him carefully for a moment, as if searching for signs that he was being anything but sincere. Not seeing anything, she turned and shook out the wrinkles in a little black dress before hanging it up. “And you’re being snide and huffy with Declan… my cousin, is unreasonable, immature and will not continue.”
Nate tried to nod, he really did, but a mental image of the shirtless wonder, grinning as he sucked up to Cyd had him seeing red… a growl erupting unbidden from the back of his throat.
“You did not just growl.” Charisse turned, arms folded, glaring his way. “What do you have against Declan? He’s a sweetheart, who has been nothing but nice and helpful.”
Again a growl, this time deeper… throatier. Nate couldn’t help it.
“Seriously?” Charisse’s green eyes narrowed even further, her hands now on her hips, one of her feet tapping out a fast impatient rhythm. “What do you not understand about the concept that he’s my cousin?”
“Adopted.” Nate reminded in a clipped rough tone.
Charisse rolled her eyes. “You’ve gone insane haven’t you? Why would you possibly pick on Declan? I just can’t…”
“I’m jealous, okay.” Nate stalked into the room, pacing back and forth. “Every time he comes near you I want to rip his head off and beat him with it.”
Charisse’s mouth dropped open in shock. “You’re jealous? Of Declan?” For a moment she was gob smacked, then she snapped, dashing forward she punched Nate as hard as she could on the arm. “He’s. My. Cousin!” For good measure and since her hand was already numb, she thumped him again.
“Okay.” He grabbed her flailing arm. “Stop that, you’ll hurt yourself. And I’m sorry. I know it makes no sense and that I’m acting irrationally, but you have to understand Cyd… I’ve never been jealous before.”
“What?’ She blinked, shaking her head, had she heard him right? “Excuse me?”
“I said that I’ve never been jealous before.” Maat, she smelled wonderful, and this close to her provided the added benefit of an excellent view down the front of her robe.
“You’re serious, in over a hundred years, you’ve never been jealo
us?”
He shook his head gravely. “Never. I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you how special you are to me Cyd and it’s not easy considering the swathe of men who’ve prostrated themselves at your feet before me and already told you how beautiful, smart, witty, sexy and magical you are. I find myself lost for words.” He glanced at his hand encircling her wrist still. “I want to take it slow, savour you, but the moment I touch you, it’s all I can do not to slam you up against the nearest hard surface and take you. Damn Charisse, I knew it from the first moment I laid eyes on you that you were the woman for me.”
Charisse’s green eyes were wide, her breath coming in short shallow pants. “But you hate my singing?”
“That’s a fact, and I’m not a big fan of your humming either. You trying to tell me you think I’m perfect?”
“Hell no.” Charisse shook her head quickly. “You’re arrogant, grumpy, overly fixated on my breasts…”
“And your ass, don’t forget that sweet ass of yours.”
“Let me add annoying to the list.” She rolled her eyes heavenwards.
“But despite my very few flaws, you love me Cyd, don’t you?” His other hand moved to play with the tie that held her robe closed.
“Would I be here if I didn’t Sheriff?”
“Na-huh.” He leaned over, breathing in deeply the essential scent that was Cyd, nuzzling his lips against the side of her throat. “Say the words Cyd.”
She arched into his warmth and the heated words he breathed against her skin. “You first.”
“I said all those nice things about you and admitted to being jealous of that so-called cousin of yours… I’m pretty sure it’s your turn Cyd.”
She gave a deep sigh, her silk covered breasts brushing against his chest.
“And stop trying to duck out of it by distracting me with your breasts.”
“Hah.” Charisse slammed a palm flat against his rock solid chest and pushed. “Fine.”
She bought her other hand up, pressing all her weight against him, it took Nate a few seconds to realise she was trying to back him up. Holding back a smile he let her manoeuvre him back to the bed. Taking a seat on the edge he appreciated the view mightily as Cyd sat on his lap facing him.
“You sure you’re not just trying to distract me here Cyd?”
Charisse laughed, bringing a finger to rest below his jaw and tilting his face up. “I can dig out one of my muumuus if that would help keep your attention focused.”
He shook his head. “Not really, I’d just be thinking of the quickest way to tear the thing off of you.”
She took a deep breath.
Automatically his gaze dropped once more.
“Pay attention.” She fisted her fingers in his hair, only satisfied when his whiskey eyes met hers. “Goddess damn you Nate, you’ve surprised me from day one. You scowl and flirt with me, sometimes in the same breath. Kiss me senseless. Make me angrier than any other human being on the planet. I think… no, I know I’m going to regret this, damn it, but… I love you.”
Nate reared back, his eyes narrowing. “What did you mean by that crack… you know you’re going to regret this?”
Charisse brushed her hair out of her eyes, feeling frustrated. “Didn’t you hear what I just said? I love you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Now about that wise guy crack you just made.”
Charisse grinned, laughing at him. “Pissed you off didn’t it? See how it feels for once.”
“Why, you little…” Nate picked her up by the waist, tossing her into the middle of the bed, diving after her, trapping her in place. “So Cyd, you love me?”
Charisse’s laughter died abruptly as she looked into his gorgeous whisky eyes. A sensual smile tugging at the corners of his oh-so-tempting lips, now only inches away from hers.
“I love you Nate.”
“Thank Maat Cyd, I love you too.” He leaned down, capturing her lips with his, giving her a heated but sweet kiss. “So you’ll meld with me?”
“Hmmm?” She reached up to pull his head down.
Nate evaded the lure of her lips, pulling undone the tie of her robe, spreading the silky material aside, feasting his eyes down over her naked flesh, determined to be strong. “When?”
She whimpered, why wasn’t he kissing her? Touching her? “Meld?” Her mind cleared a little as the word fully sunk in. “Umm, you don’t just want to live in sin for a decade or three?”
“It’s bad enough we had Bettina out of wedlock honey.” He trailed a finger down the line of her breast bone.
Charisse whimpered. “Funny… not.”
His warm finger circled her left nipple slowly. “Should we have a big ceremony or something intimate?”
“Intimate.” Charisse strained upwards at his touch. “Definitely something intimate and fast… really, really fast. Or we could just skip the whole thing and…” She let out a soft breathless gasp as he dipped his head and swirled his tongue around her other nipple. “Damn you Nate.”
He gave her a wolfish grin, though sweat dotted his forehead, his other hand gliding up over the satin soft skin of her thigh, his touch light and teasing. “I can keep this up all day Cyd… all you have to do is set a date.”
She moaned fretfully, scowling up at him, trapped by his weight and his teasing ways. “Tonight, tomorrow… the day after, pick a date, I’ll be there.”
Nate’s whiskey eyes flared with bursts of light. “You sure Cyd?”
“Yes very… now shut up and kiss me.”
“Ah, so romantic.” He laughed out loud. “But I’ll take it.” He kissed her, savouring her heat, her essence. Breaking their contact he yanked his t-shirt off his head with lightning fast reflexes. Scooping her up into his arms, her robe fell away entirely, his lips claiming hers once more. Maat, she was like sunlight in his arms… and she was his. Breaking the kiss he stared down into her gorgeous green eyes. “Where would you like me to start?”
“Anywhere.” Cyd fisted her hands into his hair. Goddess she loved him, he was going to drive her nuts she was sure of it but it was Nate, she was totally okay with it. “Start anywhere… but you’re not stopping until I tell you to.”
“Jeez, you busty schoolteachers are demanding.” He chuckled, cupping her ass and moulding her to him even closer.
“Shut up Sheriff and get to work.”
The End
[Fluffer Nutter]
About the Author
Jane Cousins is a not so mild mannered IT Project Manager by day. Her greatest working achievement has been to perfect ‘the silent glare of promised retribution’ that encourages her team to meet their promised deadlines. Over the years her job has taken her all around the world, requiring she live in the UK, China and Singapore. Now settled in Melbourne, Australia, she has adopted the night time persona of author. Which generally involves donning a silk mask, hunching over a computer and fighting in the name of alpha males and their more than a match female counterparts everywhere.
A huge fan of witty banter and smoking hot instant attraction, Jane has never let the facts or inconvenient reality interfere with the telling of a great story. Currently she is hard at work on book 5 of the Southern Sanctuary Series – To Bedevil A Beauty – to be released November 2014. Prior to that, be on the lookout for Book 3 in the By The Numbers Series – Three for the Bank Job – Eme’s story.
If you liked this book please rate/write a review on Amazon.
If you want to keep up to date, read my blog, ask me questions or read reviews of books I’ve read recently, then log onto Goodreads and become a fan.
Or you can follow me on twitter: Jcousins_author
Books by Jane Cousins;
Southern Sanctuary series:
To Woo a Warrior
To Trap a Temptress
To Wrangle a Witch
To Seduce A Siren
To Bedevil A Beauty (Coming Nov 2014)
By the Numbers series:
One For The Wedding
Two For The Sh
ow
Three For The Bank Job (Coming Sept 2014)
To Woo a Warrior
(Book One – Southern Sanctuary)
It was common knowledge that Hadleigh Valhalla was a complete failure when it came to men. Too blood thirsty. Too tall at 6.6ft and without a coy bone in her too voluptuous body. If there had been a ‘fun, flirty and feminine’ test she would have failed it hands down.
Thankfully she was much more suited to her role as an Enforcer, protecting her magically enhanced eccentric extended family on a daily basis from all kinds of nasties. It was a job she loved, much preferring to be out there beheading the baddies than dating any day of the week … much less stressful.
Except now there’s a new threat in town. Great Aunt Alma, the family match maker has returned to the fold and set her sights squarely on all the singletons. Hadleigh will do anything she has to in order to avoid Alma’s matchmaking manoeuvres, even if that means signing on as the newest member of the hit reality TV show ‘Paranormal Exterminators.’
Vaughn, Captain of the Goddess Maat’s elite warriors has a mission, to find and annihilate any and all magical beings that threaten to tilt the scales of justice into chaos.
A paranormal reality TV show provides the perfect cover. But there’s trouble on set. Their only female cast member has gone missing and they need a replacement fast. Enter Hadleigh Valhalla, the most luscious thing on two legs he’s seen in a century. From the moment he sets eyes on her he’s determined to make her his.
There’s only one problem, Hadleigh insists she has a strict no dating policy. Claiming she’d rather be fighting than flirting.
A series of mishaps means it’s a race against time for Vaughn and Hadleigh to discover just who is targeting the show and stop them before someone gets seriously hurt or dead. While doing so Vaughn intends to teach Hadleigh to break all the rules and prove to her she is just as much woman as she is warrior.
To Seduce A Siren Page 23