Jason led her to a secluded, dimly lit section in the very back. “Good evening, Mr. Dryer.” A man in a very classic tuxedo appeared from seemingly nowhere.
“Hey, Ricardo. I’ll take my usual. What would you like?” He turned his eyes to Kassie as she was still settling into the large leather couch.
“I’ll take a glass of bourbon neat, please.” Ricardo nodded and left them without another word.
“A bourbon girl, huh?” Jason raised his eyebrows at her. “Interesting.”
“What did you expect me to order?” Kassie let a laugh slide from her mouth, hoping he couldn’t hear the nervousness that filled it.
“Let’s see. What would an innocent small town girl order?” He asked to himself. “Maybe a wheat beer? Or some type of fruity drink?”
“Well, I am far from innocent.” Her amber eyes burned into his making his heart race.
“Oh yeah?”
“There are things about me that you don’t know. That no one knows for that matter.” Ricardo silently returned with their drinks and a cigar for Jason.
“That sounds intriguing. I like a girl with secrets.” Kassie’s heart fluttered. Did he just say that he liked her? She took a long drink from the cold glass before her. Seeing her discomfort, Jason changed the subject. “So, you want to be a screen writer?”
“Yes, I do. I’ve written quite a few pieces, I’ve just never turned them in to anyone.”
“Well, I would love to read some sometime.”
“Oh that’s okay.” In embarrassment Kassie dropped her eyes to the ground. “They’re not that good.”
“Why do you always do that?” Kassie snapped her eyes from the ground to his in surprise.
“What?”
“You drop your eyes the moment someone is interested in something about you.” She sat silently for a moment trying to decide how to best answer his question. No one had ever taken notice to that before. Hell, she didn’t know if she had even ever noticed that about herself.
“Just a side effect of self- consciousness I assume.” Kassie tried hard to make her voice sound light as Jason’s eyes filled with what Kassie assumed was sadness.
“Self-consciousness? What do you possibly have to be self-conscious of?” He seemed genuinely concerned.
Kassie took a deep breath and tried her hardest to put a smile on. She picked up her glass and hastily swallowed the rest of its contents. “Like you said earlier; I’m not like other girls. I’m different.”
“Yeah, different in a good way.” Jason put his glass on the table and leaned in to her, his elbows on his knees. “You’re actually intelligent and want to make something of yourself. You’re not just some blond bimbo whoring around hoping to find a rich husband.” When she shrugged it off Jason continued.
“And you seem familiar. I know that’s stupid, but there’s something about you that seems so… comforting.” He struggled to find the words to explain what he felt. Kassie’s eyes grew in size and Jason instantly regretted his words from embarrassment. “I shouldn’t have-“
Kassie quickly cut him off before he could say more. “I feel the same way.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, like I know you from somewhere.” They both sat for a moment considering where they would know each other from while Ricardo showed back up at their table.
“Another Miss?” He gestured toward her empty glass.
“Oh, I really shouldn’t.”
“Come on.” Jason said forcefully. “Live a little.” She sat for a moment longer contemplating the consequences before she shrugged her shoulders.
“Sure. I’ll take one more.”
“I’ll take another as well and keep them coming.” Jason slid him a hundred in a handshake like they did in all the Hollywood movies. Ricardo nodded and was gone befor Kassie could protest. “Ever smoked one of these?” He motioned toward the cigar on the table.
“No.” Suddenly aware of her posture as he looked her up and down, she sat up straight as a board. “I’ve never smoked anything.”
“Never?” The amount of surprise on his face filled her with embarrassment. “Do you want to? I mean no pressure at all, but I just didn’t know if you had ever had the option.”
Her brow furrowed for a slight moment before she said, “Okay. Why the hell not?” Putting the cigar against his lips Jason inhaled a few times and lit it. Taking a few puffs he let out a large cloud of smoke that Kassie instinctively waved away.
“Are you sure you want to? You don’t have to.”
“No, no. I’ll try it.” She took it from his hand and held it between her thumb and index awkwardly. “How do I do it?”
“Lightly wrap your lips around the tip and inhale. Hold the smoke in your mouth for a moment, savoring it. Then slowly let it back out.” Putting her mouth around it, Kassie tentatively drew in a deep breath. She could only hold it for a moment before she released it in a fit of coughs.
“Well, that’s embarrassing.”
“No it’s not.” He scooted in closer to her until their legs were touching. Suddenly they both felt a spark of electricity run through them and their eyes quickly met. Regaining his composure, he lightly patted her back. “Everyone does that their first time.”
“Let me try again.” This time she took a smaller inhale and let it out with only a slight cough. James smile seemed to lit up the room despite the dim lighting that fell all around them. They sat and talked for hours without even realizing how much time had passed. Quite a few drinks later they were both feeling very good.
“We should probably order a cab.” He motioned to Ricardo to join us. “Ricardo, would you please call us a car?”
“Of course.” As Kassie stood to leave she stumbled back slightly. Jason put his arm protectively around her waist, steadying her.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good. I just stood up too quickly I think.” She giggled and leaned comfortably into him as they walked out to the street side. “What about your bike?”
“I’ll grab it tomorrow.” As the cab arrived, Jason opened the back door and stepped back, allowing Kassie to slide in.
“What’s your address?” Jason asked.
“How about we go to your house instead?” Where did that come from?
“Are you sure?” She nodded sheepishly and leaned her head against him. As they pulled up to Jason’s building, he paid the cab driver and took her hand. After riding an elevator for what seemed like an eternity, they arrived at a large black door.
When they stepped inside it took Kassie’s breath away. He lived in an incredibly modern and beautiful pent house with a view of the whole city sprawled out below them. Everything was clearly professionally decorated in a very high end, masculine style. “Home sweet home.”
“It’s gorgeous.”
“Do you want to see the rest of the place?” She followed like a sleepy puppy as he led her into his bedroom. The only thing Kassie could focus on was the large, comforting bed on the far side of the room. While she was fantasizing about curling up in the cloud like bed before her, Jason made his way into his large walk-in closet. After rummaging through his closet, Jason handed her one of his button up shirts. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” Taking it from him she looked around for somewhere to change. Jason smiled at her modesty and excused himself to the hallway so she could change comfortably. A few minutes later he knocked on the door and let himself in. Kassie had fallen asleep on his bed with the blankets thrown sleepily back.
Jason felt something in his chest that he was not accustomed to. He stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt before sliding in next to her in bed. Gently he pulled the blankets over her, trying hard not to wake her. He slid his arm across her waist and breathed in the scent of her hair, smiling to himself. It felt so natural that he never wanted it to end.
***
Kassie stretched slightly as she began to wake up. Looking around her slightly panicked, it took a moment for her mind to register
where she was. As gently as possibly she rolled over to face Jason lying beside her. His eyes fluttered softly open as a small smirk covered his face. “Good morning.” His sleepy voice sent sparks through Kassie’s veins.
“Good morning.” Although her make-up was slightly smudged and her hair a mess, Jason still thought she was just as beautiful as ever. “Thank you.”
“For what?” His brow furrowed as he fought against the sunlight that poured into the room.
“For not trying anything last night when I wasn’t myself. You’re a really nice guy.” She let her face slide a little closer to his wanting so bad to kiss his sleepy lips.
“Well, you deserve to be respected. Plus I wanted our first kiss to be just as good for you as it will be for me.” Her heart filled with longing as each word slide from his tongue. She couldn’t take it anymore and leaned in to him, planting a gentle kiss on his lips.
His lips eagerly met hers as his hands found their way around to the back of her head, getting lost in her long brown hair. Passion surging through her, Kassie climbed on top of him and began undoing the buttons of her shirt. “Kassie.” He pulled away from her breathing heavily. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I know.” She kissed him harder as she grinding her hips against him teasingly. “But I want to.” She whispered in his ear as she nibbled on it lightly.
“Well in that case…” Picking her up with ease, he rolled her over so that he was smiling down at her.
***
Kassie snapped herself from the daydreams of the day before that Jason and her shared as she stuffed more items into her hiking bag. She quickly ran to the fridge and began stuffing supplies in her cooler. Finally having everything she needed, she ran down the stairs and jumped into her old beat up jeep wrangler.
Following the directions Sylvia had given her, she finally made it to the last few turns of her trip two hours later. She took the back dirt roads very cautiously as she began to close in on her final destination. Making her way around the last bend, she saw a few other cars park and a small group of people standing before them.
Climbing out of her car Kassie hugged Sylvia tight and began introducing herself to the others. “All ready?” Sylvia asked as Kassie slid on her hiking bag that was nearly her same size.
“We’re still waiting on one other.” Jerome piped up from behind them. Before he could even finish his sentence a brand new Land Rover pulled up and parked next to Kassie’s vehicle.
“Could you help me tighten this strap?” She asked Sylvia bending over her bag on the ground.
“Kassie?” A familiar voice asked in surprise behind her. She stood up straight as a board with shock and looked at Jason before her. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” She asked not yet ready to tell him her darkest secret.
“Can we talk for a minute in private?” He whispered to her. “Do you guys mind holding on for a second?”
“Just don’t be too long. The suns getting low and we want to be pretty far from any civilization before it gets dark.” Jerome answered though neither of them acknowledged his words. Kassie knew they didn’t have long before she would no longer be herself. She could already feel it seeping through her bones, the lack of focus and control becoming more prominent in her mind with every second that passed.
“Why are you here? Are you…?” Jason’s eyes burned with curiosity.
“I assume the same reason you are.” She stared at him for a moment longer, unsure if she should even say the words out loud. “I’m different.”
“You’re a… a werewolf too?” She dropped her eyes to the ground and kicked the rocks before her. “That’s why you seem so familiar. The last turn… you were here?”
“I was in these woods but I didn’t turn with the group. Sylvia and I turned on our own since it was my first time here.”
“That’s why I know you. For some reason your eyes come through the few memories I do have from that night. This is why we felt connected. We’re a part of the same pack.”
“Let’s go!” Jerome yelled from behind them.
“We’ll talk more later, okay?” Jason said. They both felt almost a sense of peace at knowing that they no longer had to hide things from everyone in their life. They had found a common bond, a common secret.
Grabbing Kassie’s hand Jason began walking through the woods behind the group of people just like them. After an hour or two of walking they reached a large clearing in the woods. “This is where we set up camp.” Jerome gestured to the area that was encircled in thick woods.
They set up camp and sat talking until the moon was beginning to rise. “Are you ready? It’s almost time.” With a nod Jason leaned in and kissed her lightly on the forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Kassie took a few steps away from him as she felt her body begin to tingle. She looked back to see that Jason had long canine teeth and was beginning to cover in fur. Her whole body was ablaze with warmth as she bent in half groaning in pain. Soon her teeth and claws came in and after that she no longer had any human memories.
She saw flashes of visions, almost like a dream. Loud howls filled the night air around her as she joined in. The sense of belonging to something bigger than herself was overwhelming, animalistic even. She ran as fast as her four legs would take her to keep up with the pack, her pack.
Jason felt freedom surging through him as he let out another whole hearted howl. Human problems no longer concerned him, they couldn’t touch him out here. Out here he was one with nature and nature was one with him. Running at full speed he looked to the pack that fell in step beside him. Looking to his right he saw them, the most beautiful amber eyes he had ever seen. They felt like home.
Jason blinked his eyes open and shut them quickly against the sunlight that bore down on them. Stretching his sore muscles he realized that he was not sleeping alone. Curled up beside his naked body Kassie snored ever so slightly. Trying hard not to wake her, he made his way to where their clothes had been left and slid back on his boxers and then his shorts.
He grabbed a blanket from Kassie’s backpack and gently laid it over her, knowing her modesty would cause her embarrassment when she woke. He laid back down beside her and lightly kissed her forehead, breathing in how much more wonderful this whole experience had been being able to share it with someone else.
“Good morning.” She sleepily rolled over to face him and snuggled up to him with her head on his chest.
“Well good morning, beautiful.” A beautiful smile covered Kassie’s face as she lightly kissed his cheek. “How do you feel?”
“Sore.” She laughed. “Very, very sore.”
“Me too. How about we gain some energy back with breakfast?” Kassie sat up as he made his way to the fire and pulled eggs from his cooler. She sat with the blanket loosely wrapped around her goofily smiling at the man before her. It had been a long time since she had felt this happy. They ate breakfast, packed their bags, and said their goodbyes.
“I’ll see you tomorrow? At the office?” Jason asked as he helped load the cooler and backpack into her Jeep.
“Yeah, I’ll see you then.” She leaned into him and gave him a very long, passionate goodbye kiss. As she pulled back he didn’t want to let her go and firmly held onto her waist, pulling in for one last hug. Reluctantly he let her go and watched as she pulled down the dirt road.
Jason spent the entire drive home thinking about her. No matter what he did or tried to think of, he couldn’t get her off his mind. He had never been one to believe in fate, but didn’t this seem like the perfect time to start believing?
He had heard of this before in the werewolf community, that strange lightening like bond that they may share with others of their kind. Jason had never known anyone who had experienced it, but he had heard many tales of the soulmates who were brought together by their secrets.
By the time he made it back to his apartment it was well past dark and he was more than ready for bed.
Sore and tired he pulled back the covers of his large bed, climbing in between them. Instantly he wished that Kassie were there with him, that there were someone to hold on to. His dreams that night were filled with her eyes, a mix of human and wolf memories. He didn’t know if he had ever been so eager to get to work before.
When he got to his office he found that the front door was still locked. Well he was a little early, maybe she was on her way. It had been a long weekend after all. After twenty minutes of waiting, Jason gave her a call expecting to find a simple explanation.
After being sent to voicemail several times he began to get nervous. Grabbing his jacket he quickly locked the doors behind him and drove dangerously fast to her house. He knocked on the door lightly at first, hoping she had only slept in too late. A few more moments of silence went by before he tried again, much louder this time.
The door slowly creaked open and Kassie peeked around the door. “Jason?”
“Kassie, can I come in?” After a couple seconds of hesitation she stepped back from the door and allowed him to push it the rest of the way open and enter her apartment. “Are you okay?” His voice was so full of concern that it made Kassie sick to her stomach, for the third time this morning.
“I’m fine.”
Anger consumed him after he was assured that she was still okay. “Where were you this morning? And why didn’t you answer my calls? I’ve been worried about you.”
“I’m sorry.” She mumbled in a soft delicate voice. “I just… I need to get away for a while.” That was when Jason noticed the suitcase that was sitting on top of her coffee table nearly full with clothing.
“What? Where are you going?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She didn’t stop packing for a moment to acknowledge him and didn’t allow her eyes to meet his for even a moment. She knew if she did she wouldn’t be able to keep it together anymore. “I just need to go somewhere else. Somewhere away from here.”
“Kassie can you talk to me?” Ignoring him she busied herself with little tasks and scurried around the front room. Reaching out and grabbing her arm lightly, Jason pulled her to a stop. “Damn it, Kassie! What it is going on?”
ROMANCE: NAVY SEAL ROMANCE: Morning After (Military Bad Boy Pregnancy Romance Collection) (New Adult Alpha Male Paranormal Short Stories Collection) Page 12