“You taste so fucking good,” Chase murmurs in my ear.
As I tilt my head back, he nuzzles my neck. His hands slide up my thighs, then between them to where I ache most of all. The second his fingers enter me, I arch off the bed, and then his lips close over a taut nipple. I’m in heaven.
“Chase,” I whisper, my voice thick with need. “Make love to me.”
The dream world disappears, and I wake with an audible gasp, my body sweaty and heart racing. I run a hand over my face, wiping away the moisture. “What the hell?” I grumble, wishing my pulse wasn’t thudding in my temples. My lips and body tingle like they did in the dream, almost as if Chase just kissed me a few seconds ago. Eyes wide, I clutch my shirt, and my mouth drops open. “Holy shit. What did I do?”
Pushing off the covers, I jump out of bed, and the second my feet touch the floor, a wave of nausea hits me. Head pounding, I close my eyes and fall back on the bed. “This can’t be happening.” A hangover. I’ve heard of them, and I’ve seen the way humans suffer from them, but I’ve never had it happen to me before. The room spins all around me, and I groan, clutching my stomach and praying like hell the queasiness stops.
More images invade my mind. Chase kissing me. Me telling him intimate things I’ve never told anyone before. Why did I do that? I let him see a part of me I haven’t shown anyone in over two hundred years. Damn alcohol is poison. I’m never going to drink again until I get my power back.
Hanging my head, I swallow back the bile burning my throat. So much was said last night, so much emotion. Now I have to face Chase, and I dread it more than anything. The only way to escape him is to pretend nothing happened. Humans use that excuse all the damn time. Why can’t I?
Taking a deep, slow breath, I get to my feet. The room still spins, but I manage to make it into the bathroom and turn on the shower. Once the water’s steaming hot, I start to lift my shirt, and then stop when my cell phone rings. The only two people it can be are Brooke or Evangeline. I’m hoping for the latter.
Rushing into the bedroom, I grab my phone off the bed. It’s Evangeline.
“Hey,” I answer, my voice sounding breathless and tired.
“Good morning. You okay?”
I have to be careful what I say. “Yeah, just a little tired.”
She giggles. “I can tell. Do you want to explain to me what’s going on?”
With a heavy sigh, I rub a hand over my throbbing forehead. “It’s a long story.”
Evangeline snickers again. “Why does that not surprise me?”
“You know me. Nothing is ever easy. I’m with the …”
“Timberwolf pack,” she says, finishing my sentence. “Yeah, I know where you are. I told you I’d find you. My flight landed an hour ago at Redding. So I’m about two hours away from you. Think you can meet me at the Timberwolf Bistro for lunch?”
“I’m sure that’ll work. Does noon give you enough time?”
“Yep,” she replies excitedly. “I’ll see you then.”
I knew Evangeline would find me. Being a powerful witch has its perks. Hopefully, Chase won’t have a problem with it since we’ll be on his territory, surrounded by his wolves. The only problem is privacy. Although I’m sure once she feels the fae magic surrounding me, she’ll have an idea of what to do.
* * *
When I finish with my shower, I feel a tiny bit better. I made sure to take my time so that it’ll be close to noon when I go downstairs. My head still hurts, and a part of me wants to throw up, but I hold it back. So instead, I fight through it and dress in one of my expensive Alexander McQueen classic business suits with my black heels. Thankfully, Chase grabbed all my clothes out of the closet where I was staying in Wyoming. Whenever I think of those days of being around my brother, it makes a rock form in my throat. I still can’t believe he’s gone. Some would say I should be thankful since he planned to kill me if I went against him, but he was still my brother. I loved him, just like I will always love my parents even though they turned on our pack.
Eyes burning, I stare at my face in the bathroom mirror. I have my makeup on, and my blonde locks are flat ironed and sleek. For the first time in ages, I look like myself. I’m a woman who has made countless men tremble in my presence. I get things done no matter the cost. It’s who I am. Last night with Chase threw me off, but I can’t let that happen again.
Once I spread some gloss on my lips, I’m ready to go. I walk over to the bedroom door, my heels clattering against the floor. Then, keeping my head high, I exit the safety of my room and make my way downstairs. I can hear Chase shuffling around in his study, so I hurry into the kitchen before he can catch me in the hallway. My heart rate spikes, and I clench my teeth as I lean against the kitchen counter.
Act normal, I repeat over and over in my head.
I grab a bottle of water out of the refrigerator, hoping it’ll ease some of the hangover. Turning the cap takes effort, and I huff at how ridiculous that is. I’m a fucking shifter, and it hurts my hand to open a damn bottle of water. The cold liquid glides down my throat, and I close my eyes, loving the way it soothes my throat.
“Feeling okay?”
Chase’s voice catches me off guard, and I choke on the water, slamming a hand over my mouth as I cough. I didn’t even hear him enter the room.
Keeping my back to him, I cough again and suck in a breath. “Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Please don’t answer that question.
Chase chuckles, and I squeeze my eyes shut, praying to the Great Luna he doesn’t recount what happened last night.
“Well, after last night,” Chase begins, pausing for effect, which I hate, “I was worried the wine got the better of you. You’re the first wolf I’ve seen to get totally wasted.”
I can do this.
Turning around, I plaster on the biggest smile I can muster. My eyes want to rake down his body, but I force myself to keep them on his face. Even though I don’t give in, I know the jeans he has on fit him perfectly and the dark gray T-shirt hugs his chest and muscular arms.
“Honestly, I’m feeling pretty good. I have a lunch date. Do you mind if I meet my friend at the bistro?”
Chase’s gaze narrows, and the air around me feels like fire. “Who is he?”
I may not have my wolf senses right now, but I can feel his jealousy. I want to say the heated look in his eyes doesn’t turn me on, but it does. I’ve waited centuries to have a man look at me like that.
“It’s a she,” I retort back. “Her name’s Evangeline. She’s in town and wanted to grab lunch. At least at the restaurant you can keep an eye on me.”
Still staring at me with those stormy blue eyes of his, he stalks closer. My heart skips a beat when he’s only a breath away, his lips so close to mine.
“Is that all you have to say to me this morning?”
A laugh escapes my lips, but inside I’m trembling. “What else would I have to say?”
Chase studies me and then quirks his lips. “Nothing. I’ll take you to the restaurant. I have to meet Ayla there anyway.”
My cheeks hurt from grinning wider. “Perfect. Thanks.”
He slowly steps back, his smirk making everything inside of me tighten. As soon as he leaves the room, I clutch my chest and suck in a breath. The bracelet on my wrist hangs heavy, but I’m hoping Evangeline will be able to help. I need it off so I can leave. The longer I’m around Chase, the worse off I’ll be.
I have to get away.