07PIETRA- Pietra. His husky voice rasped against my ears. His breath caressed my cheek. And then, he pressed his lips to mine.I pressed back. My entire body shot up with fire. It was like the kiss connected us through more than just our lips.Josh teased my lips, his tongue darting against mine, drawing me deeper into his embrace. His hand cupped my cheek, holding my head against his as if he couldn't bear to break the connection. His other hand burned against my back.In the darkness, every touch, every sensation was out of control. It burned around me, a star going supernova, trailing a line of fire through my universe.I threaded my fingers through her hair, pulling it out of the ponytail and enjoying the way the silky strands fell across my fingers. I've never been with a guy who had long hair before. Ben's hair had been his number two standard cut… no, I didn't want to think about Ben. Not now.Too late. Ben's face was dancing in my vision. That carefree smile he wore when he
JoshAfter my date with Pietra, I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned, my body screaming with desire for her.The connection between us called me to her, and I did everything I could to stop myself from opening my tent flap and running naked across the field to find her.It probably wouldn't be the best view if Frances and Ruth caught me.I expected the kiss to dissipate some of the sexual tension between us, but instead, it all escalated. But as soon as her body stiffened, I realized we had to stop. I knew it was a bad idea. For her, who had to swallow Professor Doyle to get her grades, and because there was clearly something in her past that made her wary around me, and for me, who needed to be on high alert for the presence of other wolves, and so I could find and destroy the paintings. Which would be difficult as long as Pietra was keeping an eye on me.But maybe now she would pull away. It took everything in me to pull away from her, and I could see the disappointment and embarra
JoshI gritted my teeth against Ruth's onslaught of small talk and kept my eyes on the trailer door. After a few moments, Frances came in and kicked off her muddy boots. But Pietra didn't follow her."Where's Pietra?" I demanded. Ruth shot me a disapproving look from behind the pile of vegetables she was chopping.Frances stammered a reply.“She… just came back… to pick up a putty knife."Back to the toolbox?" Or to the caves?Frances shifted her weight from foot to foot.“To the cave. But she's perfectly safe..."You must not allow anyone to stay in these caves alone, even for a moment," I scolded as I pushed my chair back. My chest tightened. Anything could have happened to Pietra. - This is ridiculous. I already warned you about this. I could close the site for that.“She was coming back for a spatula,” Max said, grabbing a beer from the fridge. “What's the big deal?“She's very forgetful and clumsy,” Ruth said, leaving Frances to prepare dinner with a look of resigned disgust.“I
JoshANDI rolled over in the morning, my arm falling over Pietra's sleeping body. She was lying on her side, facing me. Her delicate features looked relaxed and serene. A lock of hair fell over her eyes, and a thin trail of drool stretched from her mouth to the pillow.I smiled. She looked so adorable. Heat radiated from his body, and the strength of our bond connected us. I moved closer, pressing my body against hers as heat sizzled on our skin. The itch under my skin burned into hers. The full moon was starting today, and I needed to be well away from camp. I couldn't predict how I would behave now that Pietra was my mate.My partner.The thought sent a new chill through my body. I noticed a dark spot on Pietra's shoulder from where I'd bitten her, marking her as mine.She was mine. The thought sent a thrill of joy through my body. I reached out and ran my fingers across her soft cheek. I could stay like this all day...… all day…For the first time, it occurred to me how much ligh
I went home. My mother was lying on the sofa, staring unblinkingly at the ceiling, an open album in her hands.- Hi Mom. “I kissed her on the forehead. 'I brought you a Cornish pastry and a new tarot deck.' I thought you and Cynthia would like to try my luck.She didn't answer, her eyes barely registering my presence. My gaze fell on the photo album and I was surprised to realize the photographs weren't of my father. It was me and Ben. Pictures of us smiling under the family Christmas tree, walking along Hadrian's Wall last summer, marching in a student protest against the Iraq War. From each image, Ben's animated face smiled at me. My heart pounded. Why was she doing this to herself?“Pietra. Mom blinked. Fresh tears rolled down her face. She reached out and hugged me with thin, weak arms. - Are you well? Did you come home to be with me?"I'm just here to take a shower and pick up a few things." I'm living at the farm for the next three weeks, remember?—Oh! ’ Her face fell. She clea
“I won't be home for dinner,” I said through clenched teeth.— Oh.I held the door open, letting the icy wind blow in, waiting for her to say something else.Goodbye, daughter. Enjoy the dig. I hope you have fun. Did you discover something wonderful? Have you met any sexy werewolves?But she didn't say anything.I closed the door behind me, locking it from the inside. I debated calling Cynthia and telling her to come over and stay with Mom, but thought better of it. Mom probably wouldn't even answer the door.Behind the wheel of the Mini, my mind whirred through everything I discovered through Clara. This other wolf, he had to be there because of the caves. Would things get dangerous? As I approached the forest, my stomach fluttered nervously. I wasn't sure what I'd find when I got back, and I worried about Josh alone, unaware that there were other wolves in the territory.When I finally reached the site and pulled up beside Frances's beat-up jeep, I noticed two unfamiliar vans. White
“Why is Ruth in front of the camera?” I hissed at Frances."I thought she might have a chance to get involved," she replied. “Ruth is so excited about this discovery. Cave paintings are your specialty, you know. His master's thesis was on the caves at Lascaux.Cave paintings are her specialty, and she still hasn't figured out they're less than a hundred years old , I thought, but didn't say.The camera started to roll again. I watched as Ruth gestured to the rocks as she explained how the caves had formed from water flowing over the ridges. Water trickled over the edge of the tent and down the back of my sweater, the cold water sliding over my skin.Enough !, I said to myself, as a large drip landed in the center of my head. I've already seized the moment, missed opportunities because I'm too kind to talk. I'm tired of being so busy surviving the various tragedies in my life and taking care of everyone else. It's time to take care of me.One way or another, without hurting Josh's feel
When someone shifts into wolf form, the first need is always breakfast.I caught the scent of a rabbit that had crossed in front of me and followed it for a mile until I was able to track the creature. A quick bite of the jugular, and I had satisfied the hunger rumbling in my stomach.My thoughts changed as instinct hummed through my body. But unlike previous times, if I focused on Pietra, I was able to retain my independent human thought. So I found myself in a sheltered place in the hollow of a rotten tree trunk and thought of her.Last night… meant so much more to me than just sex.My body burning for her, the image of her face flashing across my vision. I could barely concentrate on the task I gave myself. I gave the camera crew a cursory glance before heading off into the woods.Now that I was in my wolf form, I knew I wouldn't attack her. The thought of doing that turned my stomach. But still, asking her to find me was a risk. She could be followed and we'd both be discovered. B