hair. Gram
and Gramps had to be frantic. She always made it home on time, determined to
prove she was worthy of their trust. They had probably called the police and
reported her as missing.
You told Rachel to call them. Calm down.
She quickly toweled off and jerked on her clothes. Her best
friend had never failed her. That was why Chloe had called Rachel as soon as
she’d realized where she was and what she’d done. Rachel was disappointed she
hadn’t been told all the details but she wouldn’t judge. It was the primary
reason Chloe trusted her and was able to share things with the young woman
she’d never told anyone else.
Like details about her dreams of a man who didn’t exist.
Correction , she reminded herself. A man who does
exist. A man you apparently dreamshared with.
Gram and Gramps would kill her when they saw Jackson and
realized what she’d been up to. They’d always been protective. If she brought a
werewolf home there was no telling what they’d do.
The mouthwatering aroma of cinnamon and butter drifting to
her nose caused her stomach to growl. She slapped her hands over her abdomen,
hoping like hell that Jackson couldn’t hear the obnoxious sound. Breakfast was
the most important meal of the day. Since Grams was an early riser, Chloe had
always greeted each morning with a healthy appetite.
Knowing she had no other choice, she exited the bathroom,
tiptoed down the hallway and stepped into the living area. Her stomach knotted
as the smells intensified, so vibrant and rich. She could almost taste what she
couldn’t see. Jackson appeared, clothed in sweatpants that left nothing to the
imagination. He looked as good as the food smelled, mouthwatering in his own
way.
He stopped in front of her, his chest blocking the kitchen from
view. “Feel better?”
To lie or not to lie? Decisions, decisions.
“Yes,” she answered as honestly as possible.
If he knew she wasn’t being truthful, he didn’t let on.
Instead he snaked his arms around her and urged her close. The warmth of his
skin caressed her cheek, his scent coming at her hard and fast. She wanted to
melt, her muscles relaxing at his nearness. To her surprise she realized she’d
never felt so comfortable around another person, as though she’d finally found
the one place she was intended to be.
She jolted when Jackson lowered an arm, rested it against
her ass and lifted her into the air. Scrambling to maintain her balance, she
clung to him, burying her nails in his arms. The deep rumble of approval coming
from his chest hummed against her breasts.
“Relax,” he crooned, pressing a kiss to her forehead and
stopping at a nearby barstool. He lowered her to the seat and waited for her to
let go before he pulled away. “Let’s get some food in you.”
There was no sense in arguing. She was hungry and he’d gone
through all the trouble to cook for her. She watched him in the kitchen, awed
by his movements.
For a big man he moved silently, prowling through the space.
He retrieved a stack of French toast from the counter and brought it to her.
Then he turned and retrieved syrup. He piled her plate high, poured the syrup
over the scrumptious pieces and retrieved a knife and fork. She reached for
them but he stopped her, sawing into the stack. Before she could question him
he brought a morsel to her lips.
Watching her mouth, he instructed, “Open up.”
She did, nearly coming apart as the tastes burst in her
mouth. She chewed slowly, savoring the flavors. The cinnamon tasted better than
it smelled, the toast crumbling in her mouth.
“It’s delicious,” she whispered, licking her lips.
“I’m glad you approve.” He brought another forkful to her
mouth, studying her closely. She took the offering and he lifted his eyes,
their gazes locking across the counter. “Everything is as it should be. You’ll
see. You just have to trust me. I’ll make you happy, Chloe girl.”
The endearment shouldn’t have made her as happy as it
and Gramps had to be frantic. She always made it home on time, determined to
prove she was worthy of their trust. They had probably called the police and
reported her as missing.
You told Rachel to call them. Calm down.
She quickly toweled off and jerked on her clothes. Her best
friend had never failed her. That was why Chloe had called Rachel as soon as
she’d realized where she was and what she’d done. Rachel was disappointed she
hadn’t been told all the details but she wouldn’t judge. It was the primary
reason Chloe trusted her and was able to share things with the young woman
she’d never told anyone else.
Like details about her dreams of a man who didn’t exist.
Correction , she reminded herself. A man who does
exist. A man you apparently dreamshared with.
Gram and Gramps would kill her when they saw Jackson and
realized what she’d been up to. They’d always been protective. If she brought a
werewolf home there was no telling what they’d do.
The mouthwatering aroma of cinnamon and butter drifting to
her nose caused her stomach to growl. She slapped her hands over her abdomen,
hoping like hell that Jackson couldn’t hear the obnoxious sound. Breakfast was
the most important meal of the day. Since Grams was an early riser, Chloe had
always greeted each morning with a healthy appetite.
Knowing she had no other choice, she exited the bathroom,
tiptoed down the hallway and stepped into the living area. Her stomach knotted
as the smells intensified, so vibrant and rich. She could almost taste what she
couldn’t see. Jackson appeared, clothed in sweatpants that left nothing to the
imagination. He looked as good as the food smelled, mouthwatering in his own
way.
He stopped in front of her, his chest blocking the kitchen from
view. “Feel better?”
To lie or not to lie? Decisions, decisions.
“Yes,” she answered as honestly as possible.
If he knew she wasn’t being truthful, he didn’t let on.
Instead he snaked his arms around her and urged her close. The warmth of his
skin caressed her cheek, his scent coming at her hard and fast. She wanted to
melt, her muscles relaxing at his nearness. To her surprise she realized she’d
never felt so comfortable around another person, as though she’d finally found
the one place she was intended to be.
She jolted when Jackson lowered an arm, rested it against
her ass and lifted her into the air. Scrambling to maintain her balance, she
clung to him, burying her nails in his arms. The deep rumble of approval coming
from his chest hummed against her breasts.
“Relax,” he crooned, pressing a kiss to her forehead and
stopping at a nearby barstool. He lowered her to the seat and waited for her to
let go before he pulled away. “Let’s get some food in you.”
There was no sense in arguing. She was hungry and he’d gone
through all the trouble to cook for her. She watched him in the kitchen, awed
by his movements.
For a big man he moved silently, prowling through the space.
He retrieved a stack of French toast from the counter and brought it to her.
Then he turned and retrieved syrup. He piled her plate high, poured the syrup
over the scrumptious pieces and retrieved a knife and fork. She reached for
them but he stopped her, sawing into the stack. Before she could question him
he brought a morsel to her lips.
Watching her mouth, he instructed, “Open up.”
She did, nearly coming apart as the tastes burst in her
mouth. She chewed slowly, savoring the flavors. The cinnamon tasted better than
it smelled, the toast crumbling in her mouth.
“It’s delicious,” she whispered, licking her lips.
“I’m glad you approve.” He brought another forkful to her
mouth, studying her closely. She took the offering and he lifted his eyes,
their gazes locking across the counter. “Everything is as it should be. You’ll
see. You just have to trust me. I’ll make you happy, Chloe girl.”
The endearment shouldn’t have made her as happy as it
Similar Books
