by Anna Santos
Soul-Mate
Book One of the
Immortal Love Series
Anna Santos
Copyright 2015 anna santos
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Cover Design by Brenda Gonet
Edited by Lisa Davall
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.
PRINT ISBN 978-1-5331-0368-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015916041
Whatever our souls are made of—
his and mine are the same.
—Wuthering Heights,
Emily Bronte
Chapter One
Shane
She was a vision: black leather suit; long, straight dark hair; and a rosy-red button mouth. Her big blue eyes were simply dazzling! She had a doll-like face and sexy body, and she moved with the grace and prowess of a feline. As she walked toward the counter and took a seat on a stool, all eyes followed her, both female and male. She gently stroked her hair away from her face so her skin gave off a gentle glow, looking softer than silk.
I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her like a June bug to a porch light. Could she be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen? Is it possible? I’d lived for more than two mortal lives. Never in that time had I ever reacted so strongly to a woman. It was like she had a magnetic pull, an ability to make me forget about all around me. Everything but her turned into an annoying buzz, a blur; she had my undivided attention. It has been ages, literally, since I wanted to meet a woman as badly as I wanted to meet this one. I wanted to talk to her and be next to her.
I wasn’t the only one dazzled by her: other dangerous, lustful eyes were targeting her. Like them, I was fixated on her, enchanted by her beauty. The pull I felt served as a reason to approach her, so I walked to the counter with no control over my body and sat next to her, flashing my sexiest smile.
God! Her scent was addiction, if not intoxicating. She smelled like a bouquet of roses, orchids, poppies, Heaven, vanilla, and candy. What a feast to my senses! She was the personification of lust, temptation, and dreams come true. I couldn’t believe it; I had long since lost faith in finding her, but there she was, after all this time: my soul-mate.
“I’m not interested,” she replied to my smile before I’d even opened my mouth. “You’re not my type,” she added as an afterthought, completely catching me off guard.
What was that supposed to mean?
Stupidly, I asked, “And what is your type?” I’m not normally that pathetic with words, but I’m not often rejected, either. Come to think of it, I’ve never been rejected before. Awkward!
The downside of your soul-mate being a human—she doesn’t recognize you as hers.
She didn’t answer my stupid question, thankfully. She just took a good look at me as if I was a piece of meat, and then simply ignored me and called for a drink from the bartender. He had a smile on his face before looking over and giving me a mocking look, as if calling me a loser. Sam was probably gloating at the fact that I’d been rejected, but he didn’t know that I wasn’t going to give up on her that easily. After all, she was my other half.
She was dressed to kill but was more likely to be killed by the gang of predators that lurked in a dark corner of the bar. Their eyes were riveted on her. I could sense their noses turning to the air, smelling it, trying to catch her intoxicating scent.
She was too irresistible to be true! I was completely dazzled by her. I couldn’t believe that I was staring at her, finally, after all this time. It was like a dream, and if it truly was one, I dearly hoped that I never woke up.
“Can I buy you a drink?” I asked, trying to make conversation, wanting to stay next to her.
“Could you just leave?” she asked in a soft tone but not impolitely—far from it. She had a sexy, girly voice, and I swear I could detect a hint of concern. Like being far away from her was the best option for me.
The problem was that she was mine. At least, I would do anything to make her mine. And to leave her there to be a vampire’s snack was out of the question. Actually, it was out of the question before I smelled her; now it was a death sentence to anyone who dared to touch her.
“Are you new in town?” I asked. I was curious and wouldn’t be driven away anytime soon.
“Yes,” she answered, throwing back more of her drink. I noticed that the girl was looking at the mirrors on the wall and clearly didn’t want to talk. I followed her eyes with curiosity. What could possibly be more interesting than me?
She was watching the dark figures not far from us. I almost sighed with impatience. Humans had an inclination to get themselves into danger. They were drawn to evil creatures like moths to flames. She couldn’t possibly be serious. That dark “Emo” look attracted her? They weren’t even the best-looking specimens of their race. They were newborn, pale, and skinny. They had arrived an hour ago, and I had only seen them two or three times before. They weren’t from my town, but they knew who I was, and they hadn’t caused any trouble―yet. Even if they looked hungry, in a bar filled with werewolves and shape shifters, they wouldn’t get lucky. If they knew what was good for them, they would leave and stop staring at the girl, at my soul-mate.
Moments after, as if they had read my thoughts, the vampires got up and glided out of the bar. My eyes followed them, my hand ready on the gun resting at my hip so they would get the message. She was under my protection, and if they dared to make her an unwilling blood donor, they would feel my wrath. I was the law in this forsaken town, and they would do well to remember it.
But as the vamps left, she got up, paid for her drink, and walked toward the exit. For a moment, I have to confess that I was hooked on her luxurious curves, until I realized that she was leaving. I didn’t even know her name or her phone number. Also, those vampires were outside and would smell her arrival in the dark of the night.
I grabbed my coat and ran outside, only to encounter my enticing soul-mate zipping up a leather jacket and sitting on a killer-looking bike that would make true any biker’s dreams, such as my own.
For a few moments, I thought I was dreaming or even hallucinating because it was really farfetched that my dream girl would have such an impeccable taste for bikes, as well as would ride one. That was so damn hot!
She put a backpack on her back and was reaching for the helmet when they came out of the dark and passed her, joking and pushing each other as if drunk. I knew better. The temptation was too much for them to resist. Even the possibility of dealing with me wasn’t enough deterrent for the vamps to back off.
The girl must have sensed that something was amiss, because she put her helmet down and took her backpack off, looking from me to them as if intrigued. They were closer to her, and they were incredibly fast when they needed or wanted to be. I’m also fast at shooting, and I’m strong and deadly when I have to be. No blood-sucking monster would lay a hand on her precious head; especially not when she was meant to be mine!
&nb
sp; The vampires seemed to reconsider when they saw my eyes burning with the promise of retribution and my hand falling to the revolver that would shoot special wooden and silver bullets. I was prepared, and they knew that. I had killed others who didn’t respect the laws of this town. I would kill again without hesitation, and they knew that as well. So they had to have known that it would be smarter to back off and leave, but I guess they were still feeling foolish, because two sped over to attack me and one jumped at her.
She screamed something, but before she could do much more, the vampires were already exploding in ashes while my revolver smoked from the three precise and quick bullets I’d shot. After checking that there weren’t any more vampires in sight to harm my soul-mate, I re-holstered my gun.
When I looked at her, she stood blinking in amazement at the falling ashes, surely confused by the disappearance of the three supposed men. Her eyes were wide, trying to comprehend what had happened. Humans naturally assume they’re hallucinating and just try to forget all things supernatural, as they are too impossible to be true. Vampires vanishing into wisps of ash happens only in movies.
I wanted to say something to reassure her, but before I could open my mouth, she was slumped to the ground. I rushed to her in time to stop her from hitting the dusty pavement. She fainted into my arms.
“Miss.” I felt stupid calling her that, but I didn’t know her name. I caught her against my chest, and her scent hit me. She smelled amazing! No wonder those bloodsuckers wanted a taste. She felt right in my arms; we were made for each other, and I didn’t know if it was the mate bond acting out, but everything about her seemed perfect. I found myself closing my eyes and prolonging the blissful feeling that assaulted me in waves of hot and cold.
No one came outside. They knew better than to come outside; except for Sam. He came to see if I was still alive and woke me up to reality.
“Problem solved?” he asked, not making a fuss about it. Nothing that hadn’t happened before.
“Yeah,” I grumbled in reply, more concentrated on the human than on him. “Take care of her bike, will you?” I shouted over my shoulder.
“Right,” he answered, giving me a thumbs up in reassurance.
I carried her to my car then sat her on the front seat and drove home—my home. It was a waste of time to take her to see a doctor. She would eventually wake up, and a cup of tea would be enough to calm her down. Besides, once she awoke up and properly thanked me for saving her life, I was hoping that I could convince her to stay and give me a chance. We were meant to be together.
I needed to know who she was and why she was travelling with just a backpack. She looked young and fragile. It could have been my protective instinct kicking in, but I wanted to take care of her. Not to mention that I wanted to know everything about her.
While I was driving, it was hard to concentrate on the road. The woman was lovely. Even though my heart had almost stopped beating with the possibility of losing her minutes after finding her, now that the danger was gone, her scent relaxed me, and her presence ignited a sparkle of hope in my heart for being happy.
Her mouth was enticing. Just thinking about a kiss from those lips had me trembling. The sexual attraction was overwhelming. I wondered how it would be to have her husky voice in my ear, begging me for more kisses and sighing into my mouth with desire and pleasure…
I was losing it, and I should probably have stopped having those fantasies, given the growing tightness in my crotch. It would have looked really bad if I’d had a raging hard-on when she woke up in my home.
I needed to control my urges, even if she was a gorgeous temptation all wrapped up in leather. My sex fantasies were out of the question for the time being. I was more interested in taking care of her and making sure she was okay. She was not just some hot woman to spend a good time with. She was going to be my whole world. And I was hell-bent on making her realize that she couldn’t live without me, either.
Chapter Two
Anna
He had short brown hair with angelic curly locks on top paired with deep, soft, beautiful, blue eyes. Plus plump lips that seemed made for kissing. He had a face that could be immortalized in photos or paintings, able to compete with even the most gorgeous male models. He was the perfect height for laying my head against his shoulder and getting lost in the incredible, uncommon smell of freshness that I recognized on him when he sat next to me at the bar. That one-week-old beard was the last drop in the ocean that almost made me lose my mind, as well as my focus on the whole purpose of being in that forsaken place in the middle of nowhere. Saying that he was dreamy was not enough, but there wasn’t a single word good enough to describe him.
I’d followed every curve made by his shirt and jeans when I first noticed him at the back of the bar. Even with so many guys there, it was like my senses were drawn to him and only him. I could not deny that he was hot. He would be quite gorgeous in his birthday suit. A real temptation on legs! But one I couldn’t afford at that moment. Still, one I had difficulty resisting after listening to his deep, sexy voice as he tried to make conversation. I never expected him to come near me. I’d hoped to go to him. This weird pulling attraction to him was messing up my purpose for being there. But his coming to me was not in my plans. It was a damn distraction.
I tried to dissuade him and make him leave my side. I got nervous when I noticed that he had a revolver hidden under his shirt; from the corner of my eye, though, I understood why all the men went back to their seats and stopped giving me the same attention as when I’d entered. No one would dare try to pick me up with him next to me. No one would dare try to compete with him. Not even the dark figures I had tracked there. He was dripping with power and had respect among the others.
And he had an amazing smile. I almost smiled back, but I couldn’t give him attention. Besides, it was not his species that I was interested in. I was more interested in making acquaintance with the three vampires in the darkest corner, surrounded by werewolves and shape shifters but, to my surprise, no humans. I needed information about their creator. However, apparently the gods had some twisted sense of humor and put that gorgeous, breathtaking man in my way.
The gods could suck it! I was not looking for a playmate!
I regained consciousness and sighed deeply, inhaling the freshness and warmth of the cozy place where I lay. I could remember the events of the night before, but it hit me that I had no clue where I was nor how I had gotten here. I was really comfortable, though. Nevertheless, I couldn’t understand why the sun was so warm on my face. I felt safe, as if I were ten years old again and still living at home. I had never felt safe since the attack. It had been eight long years of running, chasing, and hiding. Sleeping a whole night without waking up covered in sweat with a racing heart was also something new.
How did I get here, anyway? It was all a bit foggy. I remembered going outside, seeing the vampires, and watching the gorgeous man shoot them down. I was surprised and disappointed at the same time, because I wanted to talk with at least one of them. And then I did what any clever girl would do after an encounter with dangerous creatures and her savior. I fainted. At least, I pretended to..! Only to be held in strong and attentive arms. He smelled even better up close! I had to restrain myself from the temptation of wrapping my arms around him and letting a moan escape my lips.
I heard him talking to someone before putting me in his car. And because I saw the badge that was over the belt, next to the gun, I understood that he was the sheriff of those parts. Not a hunter like me; just the sheriff. He was a werewolf sheriff who knew what those things were and what they wanted to do to me. I understood the revolver and the quick decision to kill those who didn’t respect his authority. However, I didn’t expect to succumb to tiredness. It had been three long days, and I had barely slept, but I wasn’t used to putting enough trust in a stranger to willingly fall asleep in the seat of his car.
It was then that I opened my eyes in alarm, realizing I wasn’t wearing my le
ather suit. The feeling of freedom that came with the contact between my skin and the soft cotton sheets was definitely alarming. All I saw was the ceiling made of dark wood. I dared to move one hand and explore the rest of the bed before having a panic attack like any woman who wakes up in a strange bed with a strange man in a strange place after the strangest night.
“Hi,” a male voice said from next to the bed and reassuringly outside of it. I stared at him, and there he was: gorgeous, shirtless, and once again displaying the most amazing smile I could have ever imagined. Was it possible for him to be even more gorgeous under the sunlight? Apparently yes. And why was he shirtless while I had on nothing more than underwear?
“Hungry?” he asked, trying to get an answer from me. I looked at him, lost and confused. “Do you remember what happened last night?”
“No,” I answered with difficulty. I was beginning to panic, thinking about how I usually look in the morning, with my hair a mess and wake-up face.
Seriously! Was I crazy? I was thinking about how I looked, when I was in an unfamiliar house, in the bed of a man whose name I didn’t even know!
“You fainted outside the bar. I brought you to my house,” he explained. I remained quiet, looking at his happy smile. I didn’t share his happiness. I was grumpy and confused, still assessing if I was safe or not.
“My clothes?” I asked, trying to conceal my discomfort. I was self-conscious about having been undressed by him and not even waking up. I should have known better than to let my guard down.
That had never happened before, though. I had pushed myself too hard the past few days. How could I be so stupid? My mind was like a symphony of reprehension, and I had to focus to stop the noise. I focused on him: on his amazingly sexy lips that were moving to reply to me. I swallowed hard when my mouth began to tingle with the urge to kiss him. I was losing it, no doubt.