by V. Vaughn
Paul says, “To mate, you need to have sex with another werewolf.”
The blood drains from my head, and I fear I’m going to faint. I take a deep breath as Paul quickly adds, “It will be completely your choice and won’t happen until you want it to.” Relief washes over me.
“We like it to be your true mate,” he says.
Devon asks, “How are we supposed to find him? I can’t imagine we’d bring her into a room full of werewolves in her state.”
Paul says, “No. We wouldn’t.” He gazes into my eyes. “I think it would be best to get through mating season like you have in the past. Is it unbearable?”
“Not really.” Not unless I see Parker Hoyt again. “I can manage.” But my face gives me away when it heats up with desire for Parker.
Paul studies me for a moment. “Trixie, what aren’t you telling me? I’m here to help you, but I can’t if I don’t know everything.”
Oh God. I close my eyes as if it will be less embarrassing if I can’t see him. “There’s one guy that makes the heat hard to control.”
“Is it like with me? Or worse?”
“Worse.” Much worse.
Devon exclaims, “I bet it’s your true mate!”
“Maybe,” says Paul. “Will you tell me who it is?”
Never in a million years would someone like Parker Hoyt be my true mate. I shake my head. “It’s not that bad. I think it was because I was tired.”
Paul is silent as he studies me, and Devon says, “I think you should test it out. Tell us who it is, and we’ll arrange it so you can see him again.”
“No.” The voice I hear from Paul is like an order, and I wonder if it’s an alpha thing. “If this boy is her true mate, they’ll figure it out.”
Katie squeezes my hand. “I hope he is. But if not, we’ll find him.”
The older man’s gaze on me is intense when he says, “You’ll know. The true mate attraction can’t be denied.”
Parker invades my head, and I recall his parting words to me. You can’t deny it.
My voice is small when I say, “Okay. Thank you.”
He stands and smooths out his slacks. “You’re welcome.” He hands me a card carefully so we don’t touch. “Call me anytime, even in the middle of the night, if you need me. You’re part of the Winter Valley pack now, and it’s my job to take care of you. Got it?”
I nod.
“Ladies.” He nods at the girls as he strolls out.
Once he’s gone, I let out a big breath. “He’s kind of scary.”
“Paul? He’s a sweetie,” says Devon.
His power and size intimidated me, but I trust Devon and Katie, so I smile. “Maybe it was the alpha thing.” Or maybe it’s because I’m afraid of what my attraction to Parker might mean.
6
I sense Parker the moment he walks into the diner. As if we’re magnets, my body wants to press up against Parker’s, and I turn away when he tries to lure me in with his gaze. Like a coward, I retreat to the kitchen. But I can’t stay there forever, and I slink back out to deliver food to my table as if maybe Parker won’t notice my presence.
The plates are hot in my hands as I make my way to the booth. I see Parker sitting at the counter in my periphery. I ask the men I’m waiting on if they want anything else, but they don’t offer me any help when they say they’re fine.
I can’t avoid Parker any longer. He’s in my station, and I have to wait on him, so I return to where he’s sitting. I step in front of him, grateful for the counter between us. My voice is barely above a whisper when I ask, “Coffee?”
“Trixie, we need to talk.” He holds out his palm toward me. “Touch me.”
I shake my head quickly and step back. I bump into the coffee machine behind me, and the pot is hot on my back, making me flinch away from it.
Parker sighs. “Look, you can’t avoid me forever. We’re going to have to figure this out.”
I know he’s right, but my attraction to the man terrifies me, and I can’t find words. Darla has returned from her table and comes over to us. “Trixie, is he bothering you?”
“No. It’s fine.”
Parker pours on the charm. “I’m trying to get this pretty lady to go out with me, but she turned me down. Help me convince her?”
Darla says, “Girls like Trixie don’t date men like you. If she said no, believe it.”
I want to kiss her. But Parker doesn’t leave. He says, “Okay. Then I guess I’ll just have lunch.”
Darla glares at him and spits out, “What’ll it be?”
Parker looks at me and says, “A large milk, and the meatloaf special, please.”
Finally meeting his gaze makes me melt. His hair is standing on end as if he’s raked his hand through it too many times, and his eyes are rimmed in red. I surprise myself by nodding and writing up the slip instead of letting Darla handle it. Her grip on my arm is firm as she drags me into the kitchen. She says, “You don’t have to wait on him. I’m happy to take care of it for you.”
“No. It’s okay. You keep telling me I need to learn to stand up for myself, and I figure it’s time to start.” I’m not going to cower in front of Parker.
Darla lets a grin cover her face. “You’re something else, Trixie baby. He’s a pretty big somebody to start with.” She slaps my butt lightly as I turn to walk out and adds, “I’ve got your back.”
I smile as I return to the dining room. Milk chills the glass I hold as I fill it, but the cold doesn’t even begin to tamp down the heat of my lust. I set it in front of Parker and ask, “What is it you need to say?”
He whispers, “Not here.”
I cross my arms in defiance. “I don’t trust you. No way am I going anywhere with you alone.”
“You have no idea, do you?”
I’m not going to make it easy for him, so I remain silent.
Parker asks, “Who’s your... husband? Or boyfriend?”
“Don’t have one. There isn’t one thing stopping me from going out with you except who you are.”
He grins. “You’re jealous.”
His cocky attitude pisses me off, and I resist the urge to glare. “Nope.” I place my hands on the counter as I take joy in knocking him down a peg and lean close to speak low enough for his ears only. “I don’t like you.” Big mistake, because the scent of him is intoxicating. “I don’t like how you treat women and act as if the world should bow in your presence. So let it go, big guy. The answer’s always going to be no.” Now my body is completely flushed with lust, and I step back as I tremble.
Parker stares at me and licks his lips as if I’m his next meal. My mind imagines his tongue in sensual places, and I’m tempted to yank him over the counter for a taste of my own. Shocked at my thoughts, I quickly retreat to the kitchen to regain my composure.
I reach up to adjust my ponytail as I take cleansing breaths. The aroma of onions and butter is strong, and it blocks out Parker. I don’t usually get mad, and I consider myself pretty even-keeled. But Parker seems to make more than my hormones rage, because I’m experiencing emotion times ten.
Once I’m calm again, I return to the dining room and manage to keep myself busy with my other customers until it’s time to give Parker his lunch. The plate is smooth in my fingers, and I avoid his eyes as I say, “Enjoy your meal.” I place it before him, and he grabs my hand. He just about brings me to my knees as pleasure races though me.
“Want to play games with me, baby girl? How about I hold on to you until you crawl on me to get what you need? How’d you like that?”
My voice is shaky as I whisper, “Please.”
“Please what? Please fuck me?”
His language is crass, and I flinch at the words while my body screams, “Yes! I want you!” I squeeze my eyes shut in an attempt at control. Parker lets go of me and says, “That’s what I thought.”
I turn and escape to the kitchen once again. Darla is scooping ice cream for a piece of pie, and she gazes at me. “He’s got you comp
letely flustered, hasn’t he?”
You could say that. “I’m fine. I need to do this.”
“You do. But it’s okay if you don’t do it well. It’ll get easier.”
I nod. But somehow I don’t think dealing with my attraction to Parker is going to get any easier. He’s right. We need to talk, because what I’m feeling has to mean he’s my true mate. I recall Devon saying that your true mate loves you no matter what. Parker may be frightening, but he’s not going to hurt me.
When Darla leaves, I grab the ice cream scoop to make the dessert that goes with the meatloaf special. The five-gallon containers are in a chest-style freezer, and the edge digs into my belly as I lean over to dig out vanilla ice cream. It requires strength, and it feels good to use force as I fill a bowl. I drizzle hot fudge over it, and whipped cream whooshes out of the can when I add that too. The cherry is sticky when I fish it out of the container, and I watch it sink a little in the cream when I finish making the dessert. Katie said that once you find your true mate, it’s almost impossible to be with anyone else.
I grin to myself as I walk back out and set the sundae down in front of him. “I get out around three. Wait for me in your truck.”
Parker says, “I’ve been waiting for you my whole life.” I gaze into his eyes and realize he means it. I’m not sure what to do with that knowledge, and I set his bill down on the counter before I walk away.
Dishes clatter as I stack them to clear a table. My stomach flips as I imagine what might happen in Parker’s truck. If he feels what I do, then that sexy man most women desire wants only me. Fear grips my heart when I understand what that means. It’s one thing to fantasize about sex with a gorgeous man. But it’s going to be something altogether different to have it actually happen. I recall the size of his cock, and the urge to vomit overwhelms me. What am I going to do with that?
7
Cold water splashes on my face as I attempt to wash off restaurant grime. The paper towel is rough on my skin when I dry off, and I run my damp hands through my loose hair. My curls are full with my new haircut, and I shake my head to let them fall forward. I sigh as I study my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I wonder if Parker thinks I’m pretty or if he’s too consumed by true mate lust to care.
I close my eyes and play back the worn-out memory of our kiss the other day. I suppose my appearance doesn’t matter, because he left no doubt he’s attracted to me physically. But is that enough? Am I really destined to be with a man that I think is a class A douche? A light rapping on the wooden door captures my attention, and I call out, “Just a minute.” My backpack yanks at my shoulder as I hoist it over my arm, and I exit the bathroom so the diner patron can use it.
When I get outside, I notice the dirty remains of the snow banks from clearing the parking lot are finally gone, and heat radiates up from the asphalt that had been warmed by the sun. I set my sights on the large black truck in the distance. This is it. My life is about to change, because while I’m not sure what happens next, I am sure that Parker Hoyt is about to become my future.
My mother made it her life’s work to ensure I knew that a man wasn’t a necessary fixture in my life. And I grew up without a father figure. I suppose that’s also why I never had much interest in boys the way most girls do. But I know more about sex than your average person. Mom made sure of that. So while I may be a virgin, I have a pretty good idea what I’ve been missing.
Before I get to the truck, a door groans open, and Parker hops down to stand before me. The afternoon sun is behind him, and his hair glows in the light as if he’s magical. A nervous giggle threatens to escape, because we both are mythical creatures. He smiles as I approach. “Thank you for agreeing to talk to me. I thought maybe we could go for a walk.”
I nod, because I’m not quite ready to be in a small, enclosed space with him. Around the corner from the diner is a park where kids play, and I ask, “Should we go to the playground?”
“Yes.” He reaches for my backpack. “I can keep this in my truck for you.” The sexual predator is gone. I think Parker Hoyt is trying to be nice.
“Sure.”
The metal door slams, and we proceed to the sidewalk. Parker says, “You said you don’t like me because of the way I treat women. What have you heard?”
“That you have lots of them. Sometimes more than one at a time.”
Parker chuckles and says, “That’s not something I expected to come out of your mouth. I get the impression you’re a bit sheltered.”
“I may not be very social, but you’d be amazed at the things people talk about when they go out to eat.” We walk slowly, and I kick a rock with my shoe. It skitters across the concrete.
“Well, those days are over.” Parker is silent as if he’s thinking and then says, “I’m sorry I bit you.”
I clench my fists. Whoa. Parker was the one that bit me? He’s the reason I’ve been in heat for five springs in a row? I take a deep breath to tamp down my anger and ask, “Would we still be true mates if you hadn’t bitten me?”
“Yes. I know it’s got to be strange for you, but we don’t have control over this.” When I don’t speak, he adds, “Werewolves can spend a lifetime searching for their true mate. It’s a big deal when you find her.”
We’ve reached the park, and he leads us over to a picnic table that’s set apart from the children playing by the swings.
I let out a small cry of surprise when he lifts me onto the table and sits on the bench between my legs. Heat is radiating from his body, and I fight the urge to lean in and kiss the mouth that is now level with mine. The vivid color of his eyes is mesmerizing, and I ask, “Is that why you bit me?”
My body begins to tremble from desire, but Parker doesn’t touch me. His gaze is intense and darkens as he answers, “Yes. I shouldn’t have.”
While he seems sincere, I’m not willing to just let it go. Lust is clouding my judgment, and I lean away from him.
“It was awful. I thought something was wrong with me all these years.”
“I tried to find you,” he says. “Do you know what being my true mate means?”
“Devon and Katie Lindholm told me a little bit. They said that you have to love me and won’t want to be with anyone else.”
“That’s true.” He flashes me a movie-star smile. “You’re the only girl for me now.”
I squint at him. “Sucks to be you.”
Parker groans. “I want to touch you, but I need you to understand everything before I do. Because”—he rakes a hand through his hair—“I can barely think straight now.”
I smile in sympathy. “I’m having the same problem. I’m sorry you’re stuck with me.”
“What? Why would you say such a thing?”
“I’m not like the girls you usually date.”
He shakes his head. “Those girls were a way to pass the time until I found you.”
“But—”
He lets out a low growl, and the sound makes me want to squirm. “But nothing. God, you’re so sexy with those curves and your ass.” He glances down at his lap and says, “See for yourself what you do to me.”
I look quickly, and it makes me even hotter thinking he wants me the way I want him. I ask, “Isn’t that uncomfortable?”
His laugh is loud and contagious. I join in and forget myself when I place my hand on his shoulder. I stop laughing when the zing of our connection races through me, but before I can remove my hand, Parker takes it.
“I want to be with you more than I want to breathe, but I don’t think you’re ready. If we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together, I need you to want me for more than my body.”
I grin at him. “That’s supposed to be my line.”
He releases my hand to stroke my cheek with his finger, and a small whimper crosses my lips. Parker says, “I already want you for more than your body.”
I gaze into the face I can imagine looking at for the rest of my life. I’m reminded of the insta-love my mother writes about.
Never did I think it could happen. This is ridiculous. No. I’m so not a romance heroine.
Parker says, “There’s something else you need to know. I have to make love to you for us to seal our mate bond.”
I whisper, “I know.” My hand flies to my scar on my collarbone, and the memory of his painful bite comes to mind.
The memory fades into an odd sensation as my core twinges in longing for our next step. The table shudders when I lift my feet up to place them on the surface and jump off. The earth is firm when I land, and the impact reverberates through my legs. “I’m not ready.”
8
Parker walked me to the trailer park, and when he gave me a questioning look about where I lived, I took satisfaction in letting him think I’m a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. After all, if I’m going to end up with a cocky jerk, I want him to suffer thinking he’s getting trailer trash.
My mom is out running errands to stock up on supplies before she starts another marathon writing session, and I’m grateful to have the house to myself. Cabinet doors slam as I open and close them, searching for something good to eat. I finally settle on a frozen juice treat that may have been in the freezer for over a year. Water rushes in the sink as I rinse off the frosty outer layer. The more time I spend thinking about finding my true mate, the more upset I get. I don’t want to be with Parker Hoyt for the rest of my life. It’s like my own personal hell.
I bite into the frozen purple treat and regret it the moment my teeth throb in pain. There has to be a way out of this. What kind of divine power would think Parker and me should be together? I suck hard on the frozen substance. I wonder what would happen if I moved far away and never came back. But that won’t work, because I recall Katie telling me that your true mate is miserable without you. While I don’t like Parker, I don’t think he deserves to spend a lifetime unhappy. Plus I bet it would make me feel the same way.
The icy juice thuds in the metal sink when I toss it there, and I pound my way over to the couch. I plop down and grab a throw pillow to hug to my chest. Maybe Paul Ryan can help me. He did say he’d talk to me anytime. I release my death grip on the pillow and make my way over to my backpack to search for the alpha’s number. The card is smooth in my hand as I read the number and tap it into my phone.