by Lilou Roux
Roused
*
by
Lilou Roux
“Roused”
by Lilou Roux
Kindle Edition
© 2013 N. Herzer
All Rights Reserved
Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
*
Also by Lilou Roux
Moon Claimed Series
Drawn
Roused
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Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
Soon Available
About the Author
Trust your heart…
ONE
Erin couldn’t believe it.
Her sister wanted to marry. After she’d known the guy for about eight weeks.
And Erin knew it was basically her fault. She had been the one urging her sister to take a break, to get some air after her break down. Tess hadn’t been doing well. Plagued by dreams she had become so restless and tired that she had finally hit the roof – unfortunately during her working hours. Erin had hoped that a change of pace and in scenery, that getting her sister out of her four walls was the way to go. And it had…in the beginning. Her level-headed baby sister who usually planned spontaneity had followed her heart and on a whim she had taken a bus to Montana. She had been happy and calmer there, and Erin had thought that everything was going to be alright.
A guy changed that, of course. Men always did.
He’d swept Tess off her feet, which Erin wouldn’t mind so much if she wasn’t pretty sure her sister had fallen on her head in the process.
Marriage, after barely two months? Erin knew that Tess was the romantic of the two of them but even for her sister that was a little too fast. However, there was something else that made her stomach clench with dread and a bad feeling of apprehension. During their last conversation on the phone Tess had started babbling about soulmates and fate and magic in a way that had Erin’s alarm bells going off, putting even AC/DC’s ear-battering Hells Bells to shame.
She had dropped what she had been doing, gotten on a plane to Montana, and now she was on her way in a rented car to a B&B hiding somewhere in the forests of Western Montana.
She would get her sister back. They would talk. If it was truly love she felt for that guy, Nathan, then Erin would have a good look at him before she could give her blessings. Tess was her baby sister, even if only by a year, and Erin had always taken that role very serious, ever since their parents had died and they had gone through several abusive foster homes before finally settling into a more or less healthy one. They had always looked out for each other and Erin wouldn’t stop now. She had the feeling her sister needed her, even if Tess didn’t realize it.
Reaching the small town she had been looking for, Erin checked the map she had gotten off the internet and turned left at the next crossroads.
Early morning touched the sky in soft hues of pink and fog wafted around the tree tops. But Erin didn’t stop, didn’t even slow down to take in the breathtaking landscape surrounding her. When she reached the main cabin of the B&B she had been looking for, she parked the car in front. After a quick check in the mirror, she ran a hand under her mismatched eyes, one blue and one green, and through the short cap of her blonde hair. It was the best she could do for now, she decided and got out.
Damn. She was a woman with a mission and sure as hell wouldn’t be distracted by cute, honey logwood cabins against the magnificent blue-green backdrop of the rise and fall of the mountains. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her dark blue blazer in place, straightening it and her spine at the same time, before putting on her serious face. A face some grown-up men had run from, tucking tail as quickly as possible – those mismatched eyes of hers had to be good for something after all. She was the out-going, impulsive and casual one of the two, but the moment it concerned her sister she was as serious as could be.
Confident, Erin marched up the stairs to the main cabin and knocked at the door.
Waited. And waited.
She had already lifted her hand to knock again when the door suddenly opened. Erin’s mind short-circuited and left her staring. She had seen some fine specimen of the opposite sex in her life but he left them in the dust – by far.
He was tall, probably six feet three and topping her five feet nine easily. Strong arms and broad in the shoulders covered in a black shirt that tapered down to lean hips and what she suspected was a nice, firm ass hidden under faded denim. A small cut below the knee added a hint of youthful ruggedness, so did the bare feet. Erin nearly groaned. She loved men in bare feet, and was glad that most of them didn’t realize the effect it could have on a woman. But his most stunning feature was his face, especially his eyes. Strong, square jaw, dusted with stubble, and a mouth that some women would kill for to kiss. Framed by dark waves that were a little too long and made her traitor hands itch to get her fingers into it, his granite gray eyes stared straight at her, leaving her feeling naked and vulnerable.
When she realized she was gawking, she struggled for her voice. “Are you Nathan Hawkins?” She was glad her always-hoarse voice sounded bad-ass and calm when she felt anything but.
He leaned against the slightly opened door, one arm above his head. A casual but damn sensual pose of masculine grumpiness. She had probably woken him up. “No, I’m his brother.” Relief flooded her when she learned that the guy wasn’t her sister’s soon-to-be husband. “I’m Seth,” he added.
Erin suppressed the pleasant shiver that his deep voice gruff with sleep incited. And that unwanted sensation recalled her spine to life. What the hell was wrong with her? She was here for her sister – nothing else! – and she made it known.
“I’d like to see my sister.”
TWO
The guy didn’t move, didn’t blink, just kept staring at her, an annoyed hardness slowly melting into the granite as he slipped out of sleep’s hold. “Your sister?”
She wouldn’t squirm. “Yes, I believe I said as much.” Erin pushed past him, through the door, and called out, “Tess? Tess?”
“Hey, hey. Calm down!” He grabbed her around the wrist to make her face him. “She isn’t around. No need to wake the dead, or our guests.”
She felt like a child, chided and put into place. The worst thing was that he was right. As long as she didn’t know for sure what was going on with Tess she couldn’t start going around and ruining their business here.
Never letting go of her wrist, he pulled her down the hallway, taking a few turns until they walked into the kitchen. Early morning light, a lovely rose gold, flooded through the windows. Erin just stared at the room while Seth moved towards the coffee maker. Big working island with a rack above it that had all sorts of copper pans and pots dangling from it. Pots with blooming flowers and herbs covered the sills and a part of the long counter top. They explained the delicious scent. Homey, yes that’s what it was.
She mentally slapped herself. He still hadn’t told her about Tess. “If she’s not here, then where is she?”
Seth ignored her, standing with his back to her while he busied himself preparing coffee. She cursed herself for noticing that she’d been right about his ass. Oh, and those muscles in his back, a rippling symphony as he moved about the kitchen.
“Hey, I’m talking to you.”
“No, you’re not. It sounds an awful lot like bitching and demanding to me, definitely not talking.”
For a moment
she was speechless. Men didn’t talk to her like that. She never let them. She was used to getting what she wanted, to being the dominant one. His way of making her feel like a petulant child really started to piss her off. Not to mention her body’s instant attraction to his.
“Okay, Mr. Hawkins. How about you tell me where I can find Tess and I’ll leave you to whatever it is you do. Deal?”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“Sugar or cream?” When she didn’t answer as she was busy grinding her teeth to vent her frustration somehow, he turned around slightly, holding up a cup. “Sugar or cream?”
“Black.”
His back once more to her, he grunted, “Figured.”
“Why won’t you tell me where my sister is?”
“Oh, I will. But in my own time.” He moved to face her, handing her her cup of coffee, and then leaned against the counter. “Heard of that? That people have their own will and mind, and might not jump at your every command.”
“You’re the most arrogant ass I’ve ever come across.”
“Pot, take it from your dear friend kettle, you are black.” Seth laughed softly as he blew over his coffee, a wicked sparkle in his eyes that tugged at her more than she liked. “Anyway, I guess you just didn’t meet the right men seeing how bossy you are. I’m honored to remedy that.”
Once again Erin was speechless. It was a record for her. As a writer words came easily to her and were certainly never something she had to struggle for. Apparently that was before she met Seth Hawkins.
He continued, always watching her in a way that made her feel he saw too much. “I take it you’re Erin Wright. Tess’ sister who obviously skipped the lesson on basic manners. Nice to meet you by the way.”
Dammit! Erin had to struggle to keep herself in control. That man was infuriating and that he was right didn’t help matters at all. Fighting for her cool calm she stepped forward, holding out her hand. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m Erin Wright and I’m worried about my sister.”
He took her hand in his. Strong fingers closing around hers, making her treacherous body shiver. “Sounds like the opening line for a self-help group session. But hey, they say admission is the first step towards recovery.”
Calm breaths. Slow, nice and easy. Calm breaths.
Oh, fuck calm.
“Where the hell is my sister?” Before he could start on another play on her words she demanded, “If she’s not here, where can I find her?”
The twinkle in his eyes told her he found this and her utterly amusing. “In the forest.”
“What? Why?”
“Probably to do what they really like to do.” Erin shot him a warning glance. She wouldn’t ask again. “Fucking each other’s brains out.” His silver eyes heated and his voice dropped dangerously low. “Under the open sky.”
His tone, those words, was all it took for her to imagine herself with him under the sky. Naked, under the moon. It was so clear and vivid in her mind she had to swallow and wet her suddenly dry lips. With all her might she grasped the last bit of calm and cool she could find within her and shrugged as if unmoved although she was anything but that, “Fascinating, really, but if you’ll excuse me I don’t have time for this. I really need to see my sister.”
Turning on her heels Erin was about to walk out of the kitchen when a woman came rushing in, bumping into her.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” they both exclaimed in unison as they grabbed each other’s elbows to steady themselves.
The older woman started to laugh, loud and clear like the rich promise of spring, and rubbed Erin’s arm. “Don’t worry, honey. I’m made of sterner stuff. A fresh breeze like you is always welcome but won’t knock me down yet. I’m Joanne Hawkins by the way.”
THREE
So this was Joanne, Erin thought.
The woman in front of her was quite curvy, in a very sexy and yet also comfy way, and looked to be in her late forties, though she was probably older than that - it was in her eyes but not in the lines surrounding them. Short brown hair framed a face glowing with friendliness and highlighted by clear green eyes sparkling with love of life. Tess had described her as a bullet of positive energy and Erin could only agree. The woman radiated it with every smile and twinkle in her eyes. Erin immediately wanted to like her but knew she had to keep a cool head until she had talked to Tess. Tess was her priority and until she wasn’t sure her sister was alright, she would be on her guard.
She offered her hand. “Erin Wright. Nice to meet you.”
From behind her Seth’s deep voice rumbled mockingly, “Oh, so suddenly you got your manners back?”
“Tess’s Erin?”
Erin smiled at that. “The one.”
She wouldn’t have thought it possible but Joanne gaze warmed even more and her smile spread to rival a supernova, and instead of taking her hand the woman pulled her into a fierce hug. “Oh, she’s told us so much about you. It’s so good to finally meet you.” She drew back and ushered her towards one of the two high stools standing around the working island. “Come, come, sit down, sweetie. You must be hungry. When did you arrive?”
Erin’s head was turning as she tried to keep up with the unexpected and kind welcome, and she simply had to smile back at Joanne - despite what she had promised to herself and despite knowing that Seth was watching her with hawk’s eyes, almost gleeful amusement tugging at his lips.
“She arrived about fifteen minutes ago,” he answered for her, which annoyed Erin.
Joanne stared at her, hands on her hips. “Don’t tell me you drove the whole night?”
Erin shrugged, a little sheepishly. Joanne had this scolding mother-hen-thing going for her, something utterly new to Erin and she wasn’t quite sure how to react to it. “I wanted to see Tess.”
“Of course. “ Joanne visibly softened and sighed with understanding. “Well, she should be here soon. Tess always helps out with the breakfast.”
That was good to hear and Erin relaxed somewhat.
The whirlwind that was Joanne busied herself in the kitchen, grabbing a pan from the rack above the working island with one hand and putting it on the stove while she got out a bowl with the other. “Now, tell me what you’d like to eat. You must be starving, sweetie.”
“I’m alright, really.”
Seth’s warm breath suddenly kissed her ear as he leaned in from behind her. “Better choose something, she’ll only get worse.”
“He’s right.” Her sister’s voice cut through the erotic haze her mind had been stuck in and Erin jumped off her chair, to run into her sister’s arms, hugging her as close as she could. “God, what a wonderful surprise! I didn’t expect you so soon. When the hell did you get here?”
“Just this morning.”
Joanne cut in, “Poor girl drove the whole night just to see you.”
Tess leaned in, her voice low but still loud enough for everyone to hear. “Piece of sisterly advice, tell her what you want to eat before she asks again or ends up cooking enough to feed an army.”
Erin smiled and turned towards Joanne while Tess tied an apron around her hips. “Okay. Well, what is it you preparing there right now?”
“Plum poppy-seed muffins and hash browns.”
“Sounds perfect. I’ll take some of both.”
“Seth, get the girl another cup of coffee. I don’t want her to fall off that chair while she waits.”
Seth winked at Erin as he replied, “Yes, M’am.”
It became clear pretty quickly who was boss in the kitchen. Watching Joanne move around, adding this and that to her dough and humming under her breath while more and more delicious scents filled the air around them was like magic, was like witnessing a piece of art come to life. And Erin was stunned even more when she saw that Tess could keep up the rhythm and knew the steps to this dance that was so foreign and yet familiar to her. There was something in the air, something more than just food…it was the feeling of belonging, of friendship, and Erin would have been
blind not to see the happiness shining in her sister’s eyes which gained even more power and heat when a man walked into the kitchen.
Nathan. Erin knew it instantly, struck by the brothers’ resemblance. Same dark hair, even if cut a little shorter, and moonlit eyes, but there were subtle differences in height and the broadness of the shoulders.
“Ah, there’s the reason my best student and help was late this morning.”
Tess’ blush turned a deep crimson when Nathan simply shrugged and then pulled her up against him for a passionate kiss.
Seth put a new cup of coffee in front of her and Erin looked up slightly, their faces only a breath apart. “I’d be worried if it wasn’t so.” His deep, suggestive voice rumbled though her, caressing all the right places, and Erin could easily imagine herself losing all track of time and forgetting the world around her while in his bed.
Something was boiling. The sloshing sound hit her ears and she pulled her gaze away from Seth. “Woah, shit.” Her coffee was boiling, but it stopped the moment she snatched away the hand with which she had been cradling the cup. “Shit, what the hell did just happen?”
Her hand was trickling, it was a strange and yet eerily familiar buzzing sensation that tugged at something within her. Hidden deep inside, faint, it whispered through her mind and made her heart clench.
When she looked up she found all eyes on her, most of them filled with sympathy, but Seth’s gaze was so focused on her and held a heat in them, almost a promise, it took her breath away. It was her sister, however, who came to her, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Well, long or short story?”
FOUR
Erin was sitting on a bed in a cabin Tess had ushered her into, while her sister was running a hole into the carpet as she told stories about witches and wolves and her journey, of coming here to Joanne’s B&B for a reason.
Erin stared ahead, not seeing anything, her head reeling. Her sister went on explaining though the words barely registered with Erin. “You can’t imagine how I felt, seeing those flowers all scattered on the ground around us. And then…when Nathan changed into a wolf right in front of my eyes? You think I would have been scared of losing my mind. But no. I think I was more frightened by the fact that I wasn’t frightened than anything else. Does that make sense?” Tess hardly took time to take a breath. “Joanne thinks our parents were a wolf and a witch. That they would have told us of our heritage, if it wouldn’t have been for the accident.”