Betting on Julia (A Melville Sisters Novel) (Entangled Covet)

by Nina Croft

  “I’ll take it all.”

  She let out a little squeal and then leaped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. He whirled her around, pressed her back against a tree, and kissed her until the night went dark.

  Finally, he came up for air. “You know, I can’t believe I didn’t guess. All that doggy sex should have given it away.”

  She giggled and then went silent as someone snorted close by.

  Bastian lowered her to her feet and slowly turned.

  Daniel Melville stood in the center of the clearing. “I really didn’t need to know that my baby sister was into doggy sex.”

  “Fuck off,” Bastian growled and Daniel grinned.

  Others stepped out of the forest, filling the air with magic.

  The pack.

  Julia’s small hand slid into his and she squeezed. “Leave him alone,” she snarled.

  She sounded so fierce that desire twisted his insides. After his wife, he’d thought he would never risk loving and losing again. But Julia was tough, tough enough to stand up to him, and she wouldn’t die on him like a mortal. Hell, she’d even protect him from a pack of werewolves.

  He searched the faces circling them but saw no hostility, only curiosity.

  “It seems my sister has chosen you,” Daniel said, moving closer to stand in front of them.

  Bastian nodded.

  “Which leaves us with a little dilemma. I can’t risk the safety of the pack.”

  “So what happens next?” Somehow he didn’t think they meant to kill him. And no way would he let them anyway. But he was interested to know what Daniel would propose.

  “Become a friend of the pack, help us, and teach us what you know of our world.”

  Bastian gave Julia a sideways glance and she nodded encouragingly. “What do I have to do?”

  Daniel smiled. “Do you swear to protect the secrecy of the pack and never willingly do us harm?”

  For so long all he’d wanted was to be alone. He’d thought he never wanted to care for anyone else, never take the risk. Now it looked like he’d found a whole new family. Somewhere to belong. A purpose.

  Maybe he didn’t want to be alone after all.

  He took a deep breath. “I do.”

  Epilogue

  Julia woke the morning after the full moon deep within the forest. The sun was high in the sky, though her breath still formed mist on the chill air. She was naked, but snuggled against a hot, hard body. The folds of Bastian’s long leather coat wrapped her around her. She pressed herself back and his erection nudged her ass.

  “Is that a wand in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?” she murmured, rubbing herself against him.

  She felt the rumble of his chuckle, as he rolled her onto her back and came down over her, burrowing his face in the curve of her neck. “You smell of the forest and wild things.”

  Probably. But for the first time she didn’t feel the need to run home and dive into the shower, rub her skin raw, gargle a bottle of mouthwash.

  Inside Leloo awoke, stretched sleepily, and gave a lethargic wag of her tail. And a smile curved Julia’s lips.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I was just thinking what a difference a month can make.” She touched his face, stroked her finger along his lips. “A month and the love of a good warlock.”

  The End

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  Acknowledgments

  Huge thanks to the team at Entangled Publishing for all their wonderful edits, encouragement and the fabulous cover. To all the great women at Passionate Critters for reading my stories and letting me know what they really think. And finally, to my husband Rob, who puts up with me, and encourages me, and does a great job of hiding it when he’s totally fed up with me vanishing into my imaginary worlds and filling the house with vampires and werewolves.

  About the Author

  Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia, which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of nine-to-five work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain.

  Nina writes all types of romance, often mixed with elements of the paranormal and science fiction. If you’d like to have learn about new releases sign up for Nina’s newsletter here.

  www.ninacroft.com

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