by M. L. Briers
“Hurt his feelings?” Marilyn said as if life as she had known it was over and she’d walked into a parallel universe where the people that she’d known all of her life had suddenly lost their senses.
“He will be your new wolf-in-law,” Claudia chuckled, hiding her grin behind her hand when Marilyn turned a glare on her.
“That’s not funny,” Marilyn sniped back.
“Little wolf grandbabies,” Claudia doubled down.
Marilyn took a long, deep, calming breath and held onto it. Then she let it out in one long groan. “There is just no talking to you sometimes,” she muttered and stalked off towards the kitchen.
“Why – I’m great fun – I’ll even have you howling with laughter,” she called after her, which made the others snicker.
“Bite me,” Marilyn snapped.
“Said the witch to the wolfman,” Claudia called back and heard a long stream of curse words filter off into the distance. “Now that’s no lady,” Claudia said, pointing after her.
~
Amber perched on a rock by the riverbank and looked out over the calm water. The sunlight glimmering on the water, the stillness of the trees, and birdsong in the distance; it calmed the buzz of her nerves.
It felt like a first date without the prep or the worry of her date being a serial killer. If she’d been a rabbit, then she might be wary of his wolf, but as his mate; Amber didn’t feel threatened by him. She was still picturing him naked in her mind’s eye, more so now they were at the water, and his offer of skinny dipping came back to haunt her imagination.
Him – naked – water cascading down his muscled body and dripping from his untamed hair – those nerves turned into fluttering butterflies inside of her, and she knew she dared not look at him in case she gave him some kind of unintentional come on.
How unintentional would it be, though, she was curious?
“That offer to skinny dip is still open,” Josh said, as his deep gravelly tone set her nerves off again.
One moment she was about to deliver a killer knock out line and put him in his place, and the next, the little devil on her shoulder whispered in her ear and asked if she was a witch or a mouse. Amber found herself pushing to her feet and placing her hands on her hips as she levelled him a no-nonsense look. “Fine, turn around and no looking,” she said.
Amber had blindsided him. He’d expected to be turned down again and stumbled as he spun around, hopeful of the outcome.
He wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, after all, she could just as well hit him over the head and make off on her own, but he didn’t care – the thought of him and her naked in any situation got his heart hammering, and he needed to remind himself to rein it in.
Amber was his true mate, and he had a lifetime with her ahead of him if he could woo her, and rushing her into something wasn’t on his to-do list. He needed to remember that for once, speed didn’t matter, just the result of making her his for life.
His pounding heart didn’t calm any as he listened to her removing her clothes if anything, he was picturing her naked, and that thought made him harder than steel. The sound of her body hitting the water kicked him in the backside and made him spin back to see her break the surface, and he mentally checked to make sure his tongue wasn’t hanging out.
Amber hit him with a wicked smile. “What are you waiting for – strip,” she said, and he wasted no time at all shucking out of his clothes.
Amber took in the sights – while the view of Mother Nature from her favourite rock was good, she’d found something much better to look at, and look she did – a heard of wild elephants storming the waterhole couldn’t have dragged her gaze away from his hard, muscled body.
By the time she managed to drag her gaze to his eyes, they were laughing at her, but she didn’t care. “Here I come, ready or not,” Josh said with a cocky grin before he dived into the water and broke the spell that she’d been under as she drooled over him.
Was she ready for someone like Josh in her life?
Was she ready to find the fairytale happily ever after she’d been dreaming about since she was a child?
When he surfaced right beside her, water cascading from his hair down over his shoulders, and he offered her a wolfish grin; Amber wasn’t entirely sure she was ready. But she knew one thing – she wasn’t about to turn away from the man that fate had sent to her.
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
~
Claudia walked into the kitchen and found Marilyn doing what she’d expected, yanking food out and setting up to prep for Sunday dinner. She caught a sideways look of warning that her friend offered, and slipped up onto the stool at the counter as she wondered how best to smooth Marilyn’s ruffled feathers.
“Marilyn, remember what it feels like to be young?” Claudia said and winced as she heard how that sounded, especially given Marilyn’s irrational fear of getting old, but at the same time embracing it as if it had already happened to her.
“Is that a trick question?” she asked, back heeling the fridge door closed and heading for the counter.
Claudia offered her a sheepish look. “No, but put yourself in Amber’s place…”
Marilyn tossed the joint of meat down on the side like she’d hunted and killed it herself and was offering it as proof of what she was capable of doing. “Amber loves love, the idea of a happily ever after…”
“That fate says she’s going to get,” Claudia reminded her.
Marilyn stopped to think about that. Then she scowled and reached for the sharpest knife in her arsenal from the block. The scrape of the sharp blade against the wood wasn’t lost on Claudia; neither was Marilyn waving the knife in front of her face like a madwoman. “But he howl’s at a full moon.”
“And we dance naked under it,” Claudia said, reaching over and placing her fingertip on the blade, pushing it down. “I feel better now,” she added as the knife pointed to the meat.
Marilyn snorted. “Speak for yourself; it’s been a while since this body felt Luna’s light…”
“Yes, but I’m here now, and we are going to rectify that…”
“Oh, no,” Marilyn said, waving the knife once more.
“Oh, yes,” Claudia said, pushing the knife down again and offering her fiend the wickedest of wicked smiles she could muster.
Marilyn slowly shook her head in a gut reaction, but the idea of bathing in moonlight did appeal to her. “Really?” she asked as she screwed up her face and shrugged, still a little unsure if she wanted her gravitationally challenged bits and pieces on display.
“Really, it’s good for the soul.”
“But killer on the ego,” she muttered.
“Huh?” Claudia hadn’t caught that.
“It doesn’t matter; what matters is Amber.”
“She can dance with us,” Claudia said, hoping to change the subject.
“You know what I mean…”
“Riddle me this, Batgirl, have you ever heard of a witch successfully dodging fate’s love bullet?” Claudia asked, propping her elbows on the counter and resting her chin in her upturned palms. “I’ll wait why you think about it.”
“No,” Marilyn admitted, and stabbed the knife up to the handle into the meat before she leant in over it like it was a fresh kill to stare right into Claudia’s eyes. “But speaking of bullets, we need silver.”
Claudia dismissed her friend’s suggestion with a snort of a chuckle. “We’re not killing Amber’s one shot at forever love with a man who will never leave her, never cheat on her,” she said, counting the reasons off on her fingers. “Will always protect her, and looks damn good naked!”
Marilyn did a double-take. “You’ve seen him, naked?”
“Not yet, but I have an excellent imagination, and hope for the future,” Claudia tossed back.
“Based on years of experience, I’m sure,” she replied with a deep frown scoring her forehead.
“Now, don’t get salty, I might be in the lead, but you have plenty of time to ca
tch up,” Claudia said.
“That’s not going to happen,” Marilyn said, suddenly wishing for the conversation to change.
“The vampire’s back,” Claudia tossed that out like it was a dead cat on the table in front of her and Marilyn’s expression matched that mood.
Maybe she should have put some magic behind that wish, but then, she hadn’t expected Claudia to go down that road. “That was a mistake never to be repeated, and nothing happened,” Marilyn reminded her.
“Nothing physical happened,” Claudia said, wiggling her eyebrows. “But there was a connection.”
“Briefly.”
“Well, it wouldn’t have to be so brief this time, and he’s still devilishly handsome, and nearer your age,” Claudia said.
“Of course he’s still devilishly handsome, he’s a vampire. He doesn’t age, and let’s not mention the whole age thing in relation to him and me because he’s over three hundred, and I’m…”
“Old enough to know better than to let another chance like this slip through your fingers?”
“I don’t like you when you’re like this,” Marilyn said, trying to shut the conversation down again.
“Like what, truthful?” Claudia could barely contain the smirk pulling at her lips, but the amusement was still in her eyes. “Heaven forbid.”
“I need a drink,” Marilyn said.
“Lush,” Claudia teased. “I’ll have one.”
Marilyn muttered something that Claudia couldn’t hear, but the sideways glare made it evident that she probably didn’t want to know. She didn’t regret dragging Neal into their little debate, the vampire coming back was a wakeup call for Marilyn, and she should heed it.
Claudia believed that there were few rules in life worth obeying, but there was one that she was a fan of – fall in love whenever the chance arose – and maybe that chance had just walked back into town for her friend.
Even if nothing happened, Neal coming back in town had undoubtedly livened things up a bit, and Claudia might just stick around to see if there were any fireworks.
Marilyn stalked back in with two crystal glasses full to the brim. “Here, it’s loaded so don’t fall off your stool, because I might just leave you there,” she grumbled.
“Sourpuss,” Claudia said, accepting the glass and smirking until Marilyn’s glower eased.
“I have to prep the meat,” Marilyn said, rolling her eyes.
“I think you killed it,” Claudia said chuckling and Marilyn looked at the knife stuck deep and took a breath. “Let’s do takeout tonight – my treat.”
Marilyn walked to the stool beside Claudia and flopped onto the seat. Then she turned to look at her and a small smile played on her lips. “Let’s do that,” she said, and toasted the idea.
“To the poor unidentifiable slab of meat that died for tomorrow’s dinner,” Claudia said and raised her glass.
“It’s beef,” Marilyn said and saluted it. “About Amber…”
“Nope…”
“But…?”
“Noooo,” Claudia said and sipped at the contents of her glass. It was rum and coke. “Viva the eighties, long may it live in our hearts, minds, and glasses of alcohol.”
Marilyn raised her glass once more. “But not our dress sense.”
“Amen,” Claudia chuckled. “Umm,” she frowned at what she saw outside the window, and Marilyn followed her gaze. Neal was sitting on the rock wall at the end of the garden as if he belonged there. “When did you get a new gnome?” she asked and spluttered laughter.
Marilyn didn’t want to think about the vampire; she had enough to worry about with the man in her daughter’s life. For now, the only thing she was concentrating on was the rum and coke. “I wonder how much it costs to sail around the world.”
“A chunk of change and then some,” Claudia replied. “But, the same old problems will still be waiting for you when you return.”
“Let’s get wasted,” Marilyn said and toasted her friend. “To the good old- bad old days.”
“Abso-bloody-lutely,” Claudia said, clinking glasses once more before they chugged down the booze.
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
~
Amber knew that Josh was part wolf, but she had to wonder if he was also part dolphin, the man was swimming rings around her, literally, and if he kept it up she was going to get dizzy as she turned in the water trying to keep up with him.
Something moved on the riverbank, and it snagged her attention. That was when Josh caught her, wrapped a strong arm around her waist and hauled her back through the water against his hip.
Josh would have liked nothing more than to growl. The feel of Amber’s body against his was heaven, but he didn’t think growling would go down well at this stage in their budding relationship. He was trying to woo her, not send her running home.
“Caught you,” Josh whispered against her ear, and Amber giggled. That didn’t sound to him like she objected.
Amber drew her magic into a tight ball within her. Instead of allowing it to flow to her fingertips, she let it flow through her – with a little magical sting that felt to Josh like a electric shock. It wasn’t enough of a jar to make him let go, but it did remind him she was a witch.
Amber giggled again when he growled; it sounded as sexy as hell, and with his body pressed against hers she could feel the connection between them, it felt like a sexy version of pins and needles, and she liked it.
“Part witch, part electric eel, I’ll have to remember that,” Josh said.
“Now, see, I didn’t know wolves liked water,” Amber offered.
“How did you think we bathe? And we always follow our prey into the water,” he said, teasing in his tone.
“Am I your prey?” Amber asked, looking back at him over her shoulder.
Josh cursed inwardly; he guessed she didn’t know just how damn sexy she looked like that. “No, Red, I don’t want to eat you…”
“Red?” she smiled, and there was mischief in her eyes. “That makes you the big, bad wolf.”
“Are you afraid, Red?” he asked with a wolfish grin.
Amber took a long moment to pretend to consider it. “No, the wolf dies in the end…”
“But in the original, he kills the girl,” he said.
“But, Little Red wasn’t a witch,” she said, twisting in the water, and he allowed her to move in his embrace, holding his breath as she faced him. “Are you scared?” she asked, teasing him right back.
Josh would never have admitted he was afraid of anything. It was written in his DNA to fight all demons, even his own – fear wasn’t something he’d contemplated since he was a child. “Petrified,” he said, and when she smiled, she put the sun to darkness, and the view around them to shame.
Amber palmed his cheek and felt the tingles run over her skin. She didn’t need to snag his gaze, he was already staring into her eyes, and his eyes were darkening. “I’m a good witch, I’m not going to hurt you,” she whispered, but even though the blood was rushing in his ears, he heard her just fine. “Unless you miff me off,” she giggled again.
“I’ll try my best not to do that,” Josh said and cupped her cheek with one large hand.
A heartbeat later, and his lips met hers. His heart kicked his ribs, and deep within him, his wolf was doing backflips and damn cartwheels. One word echoed in his mind, and he wasn’t sure if it came from him or his beast – Mine.
Damn straight she was, and he’d kill anyone who dared to threaten that.
~
“So, this is where the cool kids are hanging out,” Lottie said, eyeing the bottle of rum on the table and the two giggling schoolgirls sitting on the kitchen stools who were slouching over the counter.
Of course, neither woman was a schoolgirl anymore, but the sight of them sitting together like that took Lottie back to when they were kids. They were always together – always plotting – and always laughing. She liked that.
“Pull up a stool,” Marilyn said, grabbing the bottle by th
e neck and lifting it. “We’re having a little tipple.”
“Half the bottle by the look of it,” Lottie chuckled, but she knew that neither woman was more than tipsy, so that bottle hadn’t been full.
“Not yet, but we’re right on schedule,” Claudia said.
“Well, I’m taking Sandy home with me,” Lottie said. “So, don’t let me put a cramp in your groove.” Both women burst out laughing. “Not hip enough for you?”
“Lottie, you’re my favourite Aunt,” Marilyn informed her.
Lottie liked the sound of that. Marilyn was the daughter she never had. “That’s cos I’m your only aunt-not-an-aunt,” she said. “But, I’ll take the compliment anyway.”
“Stay for dinner, I’m in charge of it,” Claudia informed her.
“Sandwiches then?” Lottie shot back.
Claudia pointed at her and nodded. “Close, takeout,” she said.
“Oh, get pizza,” Lottie said with an emphatic nod.
“You fancy pizza?” Marilyn asked.
Lottie shrugged. “No, I do fancy the man who makes them, but sadly he’s about forty years too young for me.”
“I’ll rephrase that question, do you want pizza?” Marilyn asked.
“No, I’m going home to a slow roast, but your mother hates pizza,” Lottie said, leaning in and offering them a wicked grin and a wink.
Both women chuckled again. “I like the way you think,” Marilyn said.
“Kindred spirits,” Claudia said and raised her glass to her.
“I heard that,” Louann said from the archway in a tone that dripped with disapproval. “And you can eat what you like; I’m going home.”
“Don’t trip in the pool on the way; it’s the large thing with water in,” Marilyn said and snickered at the thought.
Louann raised her chin and cocked just the one eyebrow back at her daughter. Claudia, at least, pressed her lips together to try not to chuckle. “Drunk and mean is no way to go through middle-age,” she said, and turned on her heels, walking away.