by Price, E A
Honestly Kayleigh didn’t care about Sharron, but she did care about the older woman constantly talking and gossiping at her whilst she was trying to think about what was happening with Don. Or rather what was happening with her rapidly growing obsession with Don.
Eventually Kayleigh had just spent the day stacking books, and when Mrs Martin came looking for her she hid in the cookery section. No one would think to look for Kayleigh there... at least not anyone who had ever tasted her food... After trying to learn how to cook she’d unceremoniously given up, there were too many kitchen fires for her liking.
Her head told her she just had a silly crush over Don, her heart told her it was so much more. And her sex... well that part of her anatomy was just going crazy right now. Maybe that was it, she was just horny. It had been a couple of weeks now.
She should wait for Greg to get home and they could have sex. Hey presto problem solved! Sex with Greg was always nice, sometimes fantastic even, and a lot of the times she did orgasm. Just not always. Not that it mattered. He wasn’t perfect but she loved him, and god knows she wasn’t perfect.
The sex dreams she’d had about Don were mind-numbingly erotic, but they were just dreams. They were just figments of her over active imagination. For all she knew Don was terrible in bed... although she doubted that, the man was a freaking walking wet dream! Ugh, that was a bad turn of phrase.
But the point was that she was fantasising of being with a man based on briefly meeting him twice. It was silly, it was nothing compared to the months she had been with Greg. They were in love, they were getting married.
That was it! These crazy dreams had started not long after the proposal. She was having cold feet about the marriage so she started dreaming about another man. It really was that simple. For one thing this was the longest relationship she had ever had, and marriage was a life time commitment. It had never really come up before but it seemed like she was a tad commitment phobic.
It was so obvious she actually slapped herself round the head. What she needed to do now was buckle down and make her relationship work. She should forget all her silly daydreams about Don, it’s not like he was interested in her anyway. Was he? Nope, didn’t matter.
She reached for her cold cream but hesitated, hand in mid air. Maybe she should forgo the cream for the night. She looked down at her oversize t-shirt. Maybe she should put on something a little more... uncomfortable.
Searching through her wardrobe she found a purple silky, strappy nightie. Greg had been pretty excited the last time she wore this... four months ago.
She stripped out of the t-shirt and slipped it on. She rushed round the room tidying and lighting a few candles. Greg was due home any minute. Kayleigh arranged herself on the bed in a seductive pose, ignoring the niggling misgivings she had.
This was definitely going to jumpstart their sex life.
*
The front door thumped closed.
Kayleigh snorted awake, blinking in confusion. What happened? She was sprawled out on the bed in her now rumpled silky nightie, the candles had burnt out and there seemed to be a sticky pool of drool under her face.
So much for her plans of seduction. She heard Greg banging around and flinched at a loud crash, and breaking glass. This was shortly followed by Greg making shushing sounds at whatever he had broken. Terrific, he was drunk.
Judging by the sounds coming her way he wouldn’t even be able to find his way to her sex! Groaning she snapped off the bedside lamp. She’d pretend to be asleep, again. She’d been doing that more often than not recently.
She heard him making his way to her clumsily knocking over everything in his path. He switched the bedroom light on. She almost yelped as he threw himself on the bed.
She remained still as he clambered over the bed so he was half lying over her. “Kayleigh babe... you sleeping babe?” He slurred in her ear, his breath tickling her.
“Babe come on, you awake? You look really pretty...” His clumsy hands roughly fondled her breasts whilst he continued to hiss the word ‘babe’ at her, his rotten breath over her cheek.
He reached down and rubbed her thighs, worrying the hem of her nightshirt upwards until it had almost reached her groin.
Kayleigh held her breath. For one horrifying moment she thought he was so drunk he was actually going to try and take her in her sleep. Definitely not okay! Thankfully he stopped and with an annoyed grunt he rolled off her.
Immediately he started snoring, deafeningly so. The bed frame virtually shook.
Letting out a displeased huff she got up and began pulling his boots and clothes off. She found a bucket and placed it next to his side of the bed, along with a glass of water and wash cloth. Experience taught her he would need those things.
Switching off the light she crawled into bed, snuggling under the covers. As much as it pained her to admit she was kind of glad Greg was in no position to perform. While waiting for Greg she had become more and more agitated about being with him. Her stomach had tightened and she been plagued cold sweats, her body seemed to be violently protesting to the thought of being touched by Greg. Or maybe she just had food poisoning...
But she must have fallen asleep waiting and then she enjoyed her lovely dream of her grey wolf before it melted into something much more steamy, where Don was a farm hand and she was the farmer’s daughter...
Although now that he was out for the count she was starting to feel a lot better. She was imagining herself ill. It had to be about her fear of commitment didn’t it?
But then there was Don...
Her heart bloomed at the thought of him. But it wasn’t like she was his true mate or anything, if she was Don would have said something by now. To say shifters got excited about meeting their true mates was an understatement. And by all accounts Don wasn’t the kind to settle down. Anything she had with Don would be short term, probably a one night deal.
It surely wasn’t worth destroying her relationship with Greg for was it?
She pulled the pillow over her head. Ugh, what she wouldn’t give for a vision to help her see the way forward.
*
Don watched as the light in Kayleigh’s apartment disappeared.
His beast growled furiously, pacing in his brain. Over the past week he had felt himself slowly losing control of his beast. Now in such close proximity of the object of the beast’s affection the rift between them was only getting bigger.
In a moment of weakness he had followed her home from the library. He had watched her every move, mesmerised by the sway of her generous hips and the way she put a few dance flourishes in her walk as she listened to music through headphones.
He had stayed with her until she got home, ostensibly to make sure she got home okay. But when she got there he found himself standing across the road watching her window. He told himself to leave dozens of times, his legs just didn’t seem to want to co-operate.
What was he doing? Stalking a woman he just met. Mooning outside her window. He was acting like a lovesick pup half his age. He should know better than this.
Things had been quiet in her apartment, until he turned up. A black hatchback had driven up at 12.15am, being driven by a petite redheaded woman. She had pulled up at the side of the street, engine still running. Greg said a few muffled words and then the redhead grabbed his jacket and dragged him over to her for a kiss. A long, deep kiss.
Don had seen red. He had wanted to storm over there and pull the cheating bastard out of the car, through the windshield preferably. His fists ached to hit the little asshole. How dare he hurt Kayleigh this way? He had the perfect woman at home, what the hell was he doing running around in the dead of night with someone else? The man was insane.
Don was gearing up to shift and pelt over there but... his wolf kept a tight hold of him. The animal refused to shift.
Don was surprised at how calm the wolf was. The beast didn’t even bat an eyelid, if anything Don could have sworn he was grinning. Like he’d just run across Lit
tle Red Riding Hood.
Greg finally pulled himself away from the redhead and stumbled out of the car. The stale alcohol fumes wafted over to him. Don almost gagged, he smelled like he’d took a bath in malt liquor. It was a miracle he was actually able to stand up.
Well actually he barely was. Don winced as the young man staggered into a fence, knocked over three plant pots, trod on a cat and crashed into a garden gnome. Don heard the young man apologising to the gnome before setting him straight. Greg bid the gnome good night and continued on his way. Alright so beating Greg up in this state wouldn’t have actually been that rewarding... although it still would have been a little satisfying.
He watched with loathing as Greg tripped his way up the stairs to the balcony and after a few failed attempts to unlock the door lurched his way through into the apartment. Don silently jogged across the road, until he was directly under Kayleigh’s bedroom. He heard a few more crashes followed by Greg’s slurred shushes... Don rolled his eyes when he realised Greg was telling the furniture to be quiet. Dumbass.
The bedroom light flickered on and Don pricked up his ears. Greg murmured her name a few times and then... he fell asleep. Inward sigh of relief, they weren’t having sex. Not that he thought Greg was in any position to actually do anything... it was just nice to have that confirmed. The thought of having to listen to the two of them... it was excruciating.
He heard Kayleigh’s soft groans and then the light went out. Minutes later he could hear her even breathing mingled with the asshole’s ear-splitting snoring.
He should go. He should never have been there anyway. Don made his way across the street and melted into the trees, quickly walking back to his home.
He felt a wave of smugness from his wolf. Don harrumphed as he realised why the beast was so cheerful all of a sudden. In the space of fifteen minutes Kayleigh had gone from being with a doting fiancée to being with a cheating ratbag. Which meant that Kayleigh may very well be available soon... after all Don’s main objection to her was that she was off-limits...
Don shook his head. No, it still wasn’t that simple. He still had to stay away from her, he couldn’t offer her a long-term commitment. She was still too young, he was still too old. Not to mention Melinda...
Oh god Melinda! The woman he had sworn undying devotion to... He hadn’t even thought about her for almost a week now. Usually she was never far from his mind, but now it was like she was slipping away. All his thoughts, all his passions were consumed by Kayleigh. Melinda was a like a distant memory.
No, he wouldn’t allow that. Melinda was his true mate. The woman born to be with him, born to love him. The woman made just for him. But he had lost her, and he was resolved to spend the rest of his life mourning her.
So why the hell can’t he stop thinking of Kayleigh?
Chapter Six
3rd December
Kayleigh finished blow drying her hair and applied a final coat of lipstick. She made a kissy face at the mirror and then giggled. Hello gorgeous.
She came out of the bathroom in her underwear and began leafing through her wardrobe, looking for a dress. She settled for a blue ‘50’s style dress with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt and shimmied into it.
“Morning.” Came a mumbled voice behind her.
She turned to find Greg trying to prop himself up on the bed but failing miserably. God he looked awful, his skin actually appeared to be grey...
“Morning.” She said shortly, not at all happy with his behaviour.
On waking she had inspected the apartment and found that he had broken her favourite lamp. Yes it was a cheap thing from the ‘70’s she’d found in a thrift shop, decorated in sea shells which were starting to smell a little, but she loved it. It had sentimental value. It was the first item of furniture she bought after she moved out of her mom’s apartment. Or rather after she was kicked out...
She slipped on a pair of heeled pumps and found her purse.
“You working today?” Came a hushed voice. Greg was now laying on his front, his face muffled by the bed sheets.
“I have some readings.” She answered crisply.
“Babe... I’m really sorry to have to tell you this...” He said pitifully.
She sighed. “I know.”
His head snapped up and he immediately winced in pain. “You... you do?” He stammered.
Was he really nervous about telling her about a broken lamp? “I’ve already seen the damage, it’s okay. I mean I loved that lamp but I’ll get over it.”
He stared at her uncomprehendingly for a few seconds. “The lamp...” He said slowly.
Kayleigh popped a pair of hoops into her ears. “Yeah, my seashell lamp, the one you broke last night when you were skunk ass drunk... that was what you wanted to tell me right?”
He gulped and Kayleigh faltered. He was hiding something from her. Something he was scared to tell her...
“Was there something else Greg? Whatever it is you can tell me.”
He tried to smile but grimaced as pain shot through his head. Kayleigh glanced at the clock.
“I really need to get going, I’ve got appointments all day. Why don’t we talk tonight?”
“Okay.” He said softly.
She kissed her palm and smushed it on to Greg’s cheek. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“You know... I love you Kayleigh.”
“I know.” She said plastering a fake smile on her face. She just wished she was so sure of her own feelings.
*
Don buttoned up his shirt. No it didn’t look quite right. He angrily ripped it off and threw it onto the pile of other discarded shirts.
Much to his chagrin he couldn’t decide what to wear. He’d never been the type to have lots of clothes. He had jeans, jean shirts, a couple of sweaters, a couple of t-shirts, cowboy boots, a few stetsons, a couple of sheepskin coats and about twenty plaid shirts. Fuck he dressed like an old cowboy gone to seed... which is what he was really...
He’d never cared how he dressed before. He owned one small mirror for shaving, for when he could be bothered. Right now he had the mirror perched at the other side of his one room cabin, so that he could see his full length in it... if he squinted.
It was suddenly very important that he look good, and younger if possible. Probably not with these clothes. Perhaps with a time machine.
He pulled out a jean shirt. Would she like this? His wolf panted impatiently. If he had his way he would have shifted and therefore wouldn’t need any clothes. Problem solved. Although if he rocked up to the library butt naked he’d probably get arrested.
He’d bet Kayleigh would be impressed though. He was pretty damn confident without his clothes on, he was certain he had nothing to be ashamed of. Years of experience had taught him that.
Fuck it. He put on the shirt. What did it matter anyway? Less than ten hours ago he had resolved to stay away from Kayleigh, and yet here he was trying to pretty himself up for her. It was pathetic really.
What the hell was he hoping to achieve? Did he really think he could walk up to her, say your fiancée cheated on you last night but I can’t get you out of my head, and that she would jump into his waiting arms. Well he could hope...
He still didn’t believe there was hope for a future between them, how could he ask her to bind herself to him knowing he would be yearning for his real true mate. It wouldn’t be fair on her. And he didn’t feel like one night with her would be enough. Two nights maybe, a week, a month... his beast salivated at the thought.
No, he should stay away. Right after he managed to get her away from her cheating asshat of a fiancée. As long as she wasn’t with Greg he’d be okay. Although he wasn’t sure how he would cope when she found her next boyfriend... maybe he should move.
No, all he had to do was just stay away. Right after he saw her one more time.
*
Kayleigh peered at the older witch’s palm. Nothing. It was her fourth appointment that day, and her fourth washout.
<
br /> With her first appointment, Rosalee Bennett the female Alpha of the wolf pack, she had tried her tarot cards. Rosalee had wanted to find out whether children were in her future. Her mate Adam was adamant he wanted pups but Rosalee was a little hesitant. Kayleigh wanted to help. She really did, but every time she tried to concentrate all she could see was her dream wolf. Rosalee had been disappointed but she understood. It wasn’t an exact science...
Her second appointment went much the same way. Carly was looking for help with her dismal love life. Again, the only vision Kayleigh could see was her powerful wolf.
For the third appointment Fran, her human co-worker from the library, having been married twice she had wanted some direction about her new boyfriend. Kayleigh had given up on the cards and resorted to palm readings. Less flashy, less dramatic, but usually she got results. Just not today. All Fran’s palm could do was conjure up was the image of her strapping wolf.
She was pissed. She’d never been so useless. Not to mention the money she was losing. Her hours at the library were limited, she needed the income from her readings. Not that she wouldn’t get by. She’d managed on a lot less money before, and she could do again. She’d just rather not...
Her fourth appointment was with Agatha. An elderly fellow witch. Kayleigh suspected that Agatha only asked for weekly readings to help her out, Agatha never asked any questions about her future. She preferred to be surprised, she said she had so few left in her life.
The enormous wolf flashed through her mind again and Kayleigh let go of Agatha’s hand. “I’m sorry, I can’t seem to focus today. I’m not getting anything.”
Agatha watched her closely. “Really I thought you had something just now.”
Kayleigh tensed a little. “It wasn’t about you...” She hated having visions about herself during a reading, she felt so unprofessional.
Agatha raised her eyebrows. “You’re flushing.” She cackled. “Why don’t you make us both a cup of tea and tell me about it.”
So she did. She told Agatha about her constant visions of the wolf and the snowstorm, her feelings at meeting Don, her tastefully edited dreams of Don and her doubts about Greg.