Fates Altered

by Jules Barnard

  Her hair was definitely a fright.

  She tried to smooth down the blond strands, but it looked like she’d been in a windstorm. No use attempting to compose herself when she was only going back to bed.

  Theda exited the bathroom and glanced toward the living room. Alex’s bare foot hung over the edge of the couch. That couldn’t be comfortable.

  He’d given up so much in order to help her. At some point, he’d insist on knowing more than she was willing to tell him, and she didn’t know what she would do.

  She scrambled into the bedroom and attempted to sleep, though all she could think about was the man in the other room.

  Still shaken the next morning after running into Theda in the middle of the night wearing nothing but his T-shirt, Alex poured himself an extra-strong cup of coffee. It had taken hours before he’d fallen asleep after that unexpected encounter. With her beautiful hair tousled and her face flushed, it had required all of his self-control to walk away.

  His primary focus these last two years had been work, but he remembered a thing or two about what to do when a gorgeous woman crossed his path. He’d had to reel in every instinct to pull her into his arms. He couldn’t take advantage of the beautiful girl he was supposed to protect.

  Which was why he’d risen early, set out cereal for her, and done what any sane man would—raced out the door before she woke.

  Now he was back home and showering, and realizing his plan to pretend Theda was his girlfriend in order to get his landlord-boss off his back might not be so brilliant. Not only was he thinking about her in a romantic way—which, if he was honest, had crossed his mind a time or two before then—but he’d lied to Leti and Tony too. He’d stopped off at Tony’s to ask Leti to swing by and check on Theda later, and they’d asked if she was his girlfriend. He’d simply nodded and turned toward his Jeep before they could pester him for more details. But not before Tony had shouted, “Double date at your place tonight. We’ll bring the Chinese food.”

  Alex had groaned, but walked on and raised his hand in silent agreement. What else could he do? He wanted to protect Theda, and the best way to do that was for her to have a legitimate reason to live with him.

  But all day Alex had fought off thoughts of her gorgeous eyes and the mile of smooth, pale skin he’d glimpsed below her nightshirt last night. It was a good thing he was a decent multitasker, or he could have lopped off an arm while showing one of the new employees how to properly operate the farm equipment.

  So he’d run from her this morning and spared himself an awkward confrontation. He couldn’t run every time he found himself attracted to her—which seemed to be constantly.

  Theda wasn’t trying to seduce him. She appeared innocent, actually, based on their conversation last night about the woman dating more than one guy.

  All the better. He didn’t want to envision her with other men. He liked her loyalty. But it also impressed on him the need to keep his distance. Too close and he might do something they’d both regret. He never wanted Theda to feel uncomfortable around him. And using their proximity to try and kiss her when she needed a safe place to live would be wrong.

  He rubbed his damp hair one last time with the towel and pulled on a clean shirt. Theda wasn’t home yet from Leti’s, so he’d taken the opportunity to get cleaned up. He wore a button-down for his “double date,” which was what he would do if it were an actual date. Better for keeping up appearances and all that.

  Alex entered the living room and turned on low music before striding into the kitchen to open the bottle of red wine he’d picked up on his way home from work. He preferred beer, but he thought Theda might like the wine.

  The front door creaked open as he was setting out glasses, and Theda walked in, wearing the outfit she’d borrowed yesterday from Leti. Lucho, Leti’s dog, trailed at her feet.

  He smiled. “How was your day?”

  Her gaze scanned down his chest, setting off sparks and heat. His body jerked in a shiver. How was he supposed to keep it together when she looked at him like that?

  She closed the door, seemingly unaware of what her lingering stare did to him. “My day went very well, thank you. We had a wonderful time, Mateo, Leti, and I. And Lucho, of course.” She grinned down at the calm puppy at her side.

  Which wasn’t like Lucho at all. That dog had no manners, and more energy than ten puppies combined.

  Alex nodded at the dog. “Did you sedate him? Why’s he so well behaved?”

  Theda’s faced scrunched. “Lucho is a perfect gentleman. Aren’t you, Lucho?”

  The puppy looked up at her and woofed.

  Alex shook his head. “Whatever you say. I think he likes you, though.” She tried to hide what looked to be a secret smile. Had he said something funny? “Did Leti tell you about tonight?”

  He’d told Theda he might need to hold her hand at times, but he hadn’t expected to begin the charade this soon.

  She smiled. “Yes, our date. What will we do on this date?”

  Alex poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her.

  She held up the glass in the light, lifting it near her nose, and then took a sip. Her eyebrows rose. “This is wonderful.”

  “I wasn’t sure if you were a red or white person…” He left the comment dangling, desperate for anything about her, but she didn’t take the bait.

  She dropped to pet Lucho, avoiding an answer.

  “Tonight we’ll mostly just hang out. Maybe watch a movie after we eat the takeout Chinese food Tony and Leti are bringing over. Does that sound okay?”

  “Yes, but…” She glanced at her clothes. “I should change. Come on, Lucho. Let’s get dressed.” Theda took another sip of the wine as she walked away, smiling shyly when he caught her glancing back at him.

  When she closed the door to the bedroom, Alex let out a deep breath. Everything would be fine. His boss believed she was his girlfriend, which left him room to help her. She was okay with the date, and she seemed to be making friends with Leti. Even the damn dog loved her.

  A few minutes later, she stepped out, wearing a short green sundress that matched her eyes. Her hair was pulled into a low ponytail and her lips had a sheen to them, as though she’d applied lip gloss.

  Theda’s eyes twinkled at Alex as he blatantly stared, unable to take his gaze off her, and perfectly aware he might be drooling.

  He was in trouble. Big trouble.

  8

  Once Alex managed to peel his eyes off his beautiful houseguest, the evening went fairly well. It was actually one of the most relaxing and enjoyable evenings he’d had in a long time.

  He and his brother bantered while Theda and Leti chatted about the baby and Lucho. Everyone enjoyed the Chinese food, and Theda had even asked for seconds. Tony stuck his nose in and asked Theda about her family, which she dodged by only talking about her brother. Alex already knew she had a brother, and when he’d asked her where her brother was, she said he lived far away without getting specific.

  Before Alex knew it, Leti and Tony were walking out the door with an excuse about picking up Mateo from Alex and Tony’s dad, who was their number one babysitter and could win a grandfather of the year award with his baby-whisper techniques for putting the child to sleep.

  Alex shut the door behind them, not wanting the night to end, but also knowing he was walking a thin line. Theda was beautiful and gentle and proud—and so sexy he had a difficult time staying focused and not thinking about kissing her. “Would you like to watch a movie?”

  She looked over her shoulder and smiled as she rinsed out her wineglass. “I would love to.” She reached for a cup from the cupboard and poured herself a glass of water.

  He loved how natural she looked in his kitchen. Which was a first. In the past, it made him cringe if a woman looked too comfortable in his place. But not with Theda.

  Alex turned on the television, flipped through channels, and hit the premium stations he subscribed to for movies. “What are you in the mood for? Action/a
dventure?” Please say yes. “Horror?” He’d settle for that too. “Or romantic comedy?” Say no. No would be the safest.

  Theda’s eyebrows pinched in concentration. “I think I would enjoy the romantic movie.”

  Shit. Shouldn’t have offered it. “Sure, let me find the newest release.”

  They settled on the couch as the movie cued up, and Alex made sure to keep his distance from her. Unfortunately, his attraction to her spanned the large gap between them. He stretched out his legs and let out a slow breath.

  Somehow, Alex survived the movie, but being around her and not able to touch her—or kiss her—was killing him.

  How had he managed to go two years without a steady girlfriend? All of a sudden he felt like a powder keg about to explode.

  It was Theda. She was different.

  He turned off the television and stretched his arms above his head. “We should probably go to bed.”

  She looked over with a smile that wasn’t at all sweet. It was a bit heated and a lot naughty. She was seriously testing his willpower, and he didn’t think she even realized it.

  “Come on.” He grabbed her hand and nearly hoisted her from the couch in his urgency to get them into separate rooms. “I’ll walk you back. Do you need anything?” He hurried her to the bedroom. “More water? A new nightshirt?”

  The nightshirt. Images of Theda in his white T-shirt filled his head. She was his height, and though the T-shirt was baggy on her, it had barely reached her thighs. Shapely thighs…

  He blinked away the images. They were slowly breaking him.

  They arrived at the bedroom door—and Theda was staring into his eyes. Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and alarms went off in his head. As though he were watching a movie in slow motion, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

  He was a statue. Couldn’t move, even if he wanted to. She was kissing him, and there was no way he could put a stop to it. His body—and maybe even a piece of his heart—wanted it too badly.

  The kiss was innocent and over as soon as it started.

  “You shouldn’t do that.” Was that his gruff voice?

  She glanced away, her face turning red. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

  He thrust his fingers through his hair. “No, it’s not that. It’s just, we’re living together, and you’re a beautiful woman. I’d feel like I was taking advantage of you.”

  “But I kissed you. That makes it different, does it not?”

  He stared for a long moment. “Theda, do you want me to kiss you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?” What kind of stupid question was that? He shook his head. He’d lost his damned mind.

  She stared off for a second, then said, “You are kind, hardworking, and…physically appealing.”

  “You like the way I look?” The words came out before he could stop them. Memories of women from his past who’d only wanted him for what he could provide filled his mind.

  She hesitated, seemingly unaware of the turmoil going on inside his head. “It’s more than that. I do like the way you look, but where I’m from most people are beautiful. You are appealing in a different way.”

  And just like that, the bad memories faded and reality set in. Theda was stunning and poised. And she’d never clung to him or acted as though she were using him. It was why he’d felt comfortable offering her his home, and why he liked having her here.

  Her gaze flickered briefly away. “And you smell nice. Like fresh air from the forests I hail from,” she said. “I like the way your eyes shine when you look at me, and the way your mouth turns up more on one side than the other when you see something you like.” Her gaze landed on his mouth. “I wish to…”

  “Yes?” He waited with bated breath. He’d become one of those tools from the dating show. But who cared. Whatever she wanted—whatever she asked for—he’d give it. Theda would never use him. There wasn’t an ounce of insincerity about her. He didn’t know why he’d doubted how right this was. He’d wanted to protect her, but if she wanted more…

  She leaned over and pressed her lips to his neck, and he lost all resistance.

  Alex wrapped his arms around her back and kissed her cheek, his lips sliding to her mouth where he covered it, showing her how he’d been dying to kiss her. With his lips and his tongue and his teeth.

  A tiny sound erupted from the back of her throat when he gently bit her bottom lip. She sighed and moved closer, melting into him. He grabbed her hips, pressing them flush with his body, and she moaned. That was all the encouragement he needed.

  He swept her up and into his arms. She was nearly as tall as he was, but incredibly light and delicate.

  He carried her to the bed blindly, kissing her neck and the top of her chest exposed by the sundress she wore. The gold necklace she never seemed to remove draped into her cleavage, forever hidden from his eyes. She smelled like wildflowers and spring, and he thought he’d drown in her scent.

  He gently laid her across the bed, climbing over her and lying beside her where he could touch the gentle curve of her hip. “Do you want to stop?” he whispered hoarsely between kisses.

  “No,” she said firmly, and slipped her hand beneath his shirt, touching his chest and sliding her soft, curious fingers down his stomach.

  When she reached his waistband, he lightly grabbed her wrist. “Theda, is this really what you want?”

  “Yes. I’ve never wanted a man, but I want you.”

  He eased back, some of the sense her kisses had knocked from his head returning. “What do you mean, you’ve never wanted a man? Have men forced themselves on you?”

  Even the thought had anger bubbling up in his chest.

  “No, of course not. I simply meant I’ve never wanted”—her gaze ran down the length of him—“to see a man’s body. To feel him above me. To touch him and have him touch me—”

  He closed his eyes. “I think I’ve got it,” he said in a strained voice. He looked down at her. “Have you…have you ever been with a man?”

  She shook her head.

  Alex clenched his hand at his side. “We can’t do this. You’re here because you’re running from something that terrified you. I want you, Theda, never doubt it, but I don’t want to rush this.”

  9

  Theda had been taught by Fae elders and her family that nothing good came from intimacy with a human… Oh, but she was beginning to understand the temptation.

  Alex left her room, but not before he’d driven her mad with his touches and kisses. She hadn’t stopped him—hadn’t wanted to. She’d never felt this burning attraction for another, never had she experienced the storm of sensation in the pit of her belly when they pressed their bodies together. She wanted it to last, but Alex had pulled away.

  After he’d left, her pulse still pounded and her body ached for his touch, but slowly she was able to think more rationally.

  He had used more restraint than she. Never would a man in her realm have refused her; she was a princess. She would have given Alex her virtue, no question about it, and he’d held back for fear they were going too fast. Perhaps they were, but with every fiber inside her it felt right to be with him.

  Theda hadn’t seen a single one of her kind since she’d arrived in the Earth realm, but there was no guarantee it would last. She didn’t want to miss a moment with Alex.

  Her thoughts left her restless and unable to sleep. And then she heard talking outside her bedroom door.

  At first, she ignored it, figuring it was simply Leti or Tony stopping by for something. Until she sensed the alarm in Alex’s voice.

  She quickly got up and dressed, and walked out into the living room. Alex stood there looking out the darkened window, talking on a black device he held to his mouth.

  He cursed in a form of Latin Theda didn’t understand, except for the part about a mother. “The sheep are where?”

  “The highway,” Theda murmured. Right as Tony said through the black box, “They’re walking on the damned
freeway.”

  Alex glanced back at her, his eyebrows pinched together. He pressed down on some sort of button on the communicator he held. “How the hell did they get out?” he said to Tony. Then he said, “Never mind. Just get as many workers out of bed as you can. We’ll help Jim gather up his flock. He’s been a good neighbor to Old Bob and would do the same for us.”

  Theda walked out the front door onto the porch, listening to the sounds outside. She heard the sheep. They wanted to wander. And they were following one another, ambling. Many were in the range of the highway Theda had crossed when she’d first arrived.

  Without a second thought, she pulled out her sack of allon powder she kept stashed on her at all times, grabbed a pinch, and set it in the center of her palm. She gave an instruction to the sheep and blew the powder into the air—along with her words. Words she directed at the animals that shouldn’t be wandering the roads where vehicles could harm them.

  Scratching noises, like those from the black communicator, came from behind. That was when Theda realized Alex had followed her out. Might have seen her use the powder.

  She turned around suddenly.

  He stared at her.

  What had she done? How would she explain her actions?

  “Alex, you there?” Tony’s voice rang clearly through the speaker. “You’re never gonna believe this, but the dumb things turned around. They’re headed back for Jim’s property. I’ve got a couple of guys out here with me. We’ll keep an eye on them and make sure they make it back, but I don’t think we need to call in all hands. This one seems to have fixed itself.”

  Alex took a step down from the porch and sat heavily. He set the device at his side and stared at his hands, his expression controlled.

  Theda quickly put away the powder. She couldn’t lie. She could avoid, but Alex was intelligent; she wouldn’t be able to hide what he’d witnessed. She walked over and sat beside him.

  Without looking at her, he asked, “Did you do something to make them come back?”