Fate of the Fathers

Words had vaporized in Jenna’s head–vanishing completely. She scrambled to say something. . . anything, as he just stared at her.

“Hey.” She repeated the word, unable to come up with anything more original. Another moment passed, and then she blinked, taking a step back. What the fuck was wrong with her? She had touched him and then stared at him like a lunatic!

But how could she not stare. With his dark hair, angled jaw, straight nose, and the neatly trimmed facial hair, he was rugged, yet stunningly handsome.

The world fell away, vanishing into complete stillness as Jenna felt the entirety of his gaze upon her. She wanted to know his name–know who he was–but words eluded her.

Someone shouted, “Landon!” from the pool tables, and the man blinked, looking away from her.

It was enough to break the spell that held her there. She murmured another apology before hurrying to the restroom. She didn’t dare look behind her to see if he had moved.

Standing in front of the sink, she splashed water on her face and stared into the mirror, feeling. . .

She had no idea how she felt. Maybe the alcohol was finally getting to her–messing with her brain and perceptions.

When she walked back through the bar, she kept her eyes on the table where Chase and Ruby still sat, talking and drinking.

She didn’t dare a look towards the pool tables. She heard the laughter, the clinking of glasses and pool sticks.

She felt it though. His presence. The looming void behind her that if she turned around, if she looked at him, she would be devoured.

Consumed by those eyes. That face.

Those muscles.

Chase eyed her as she slid into her chair, nearly knocking her cocktail, which was mostly ice now, off the edge of the table. “What happened to you?”

“Nothing.” She tried to shrug. Tried . . . and failed.

Chase started to say something, but Ruby cut him off, saying, “We should probably head out. This place is getting crowded.” She looked towards the pool tables, eyes narrowing slightly, before she slid them to Chase, giving him a pointed look.

He rolled his eyes. “Right, the bill.”

Ruby waited until he was halfway to the bar, before turning to Jenna. Her voice was low when she said, “Did he say anything to you?”

Jenna frowned. “Chase?”

“No, the wolf you were talking to outside the restroom five minutes ago.”

Jenna blinked, waiting for Ruby to smile or laugh. The female just stared back, her face showing no humor. “I don’t. . . know.”

Ruby leaned closer, reaching out to grip Jenna’s wrist. “What did he say?”

Jenna tried to think. Had there been any conversation? She couldn’t remember. All she could see was his face and the feeling of his muscles beneath his shirt. But words. . . words had been a second thought in the moment.

Ruby swore, releasing her hold on Jenna. “We need to go. Grab your jacket.” She jerked her head to the back of the chair.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Jenna asked, shrugging the coat on.

But all Ruby said was, “Wait outside while I tell Chase.” And then she was halfway across the bar.

Jenna snatched her purse off the table and made her way to the door. Before pushing it open, she sneaked one last peek towards the pool tables, and froze as she realized he already had his eyes on her. He straightened, with the stick in his hands–until one of the other men elbowed his shoulder, forcing him to turn away.

She didn’t wait to see if he looked back. Shoving against the door, she stepped into the chilly night air, sucking in a breath. He was just some stupid hot guy in a bar. That was it.

No, Ruby had said he was a wolf.

Goosebumps pebbled on her arm, despite the jacket, and she didn’t know if it was from that or the cold wind, wrapping around her. She looked up at the sky, surprised that it was no longer raining. Scattered clouds parted, revealing a star-studded sky and nearly full moon.

She stared at it for long moments, thinking she couldn’t remember the last time she had looked at it. It was beautiful. Longingly and hauntingly beautiful.

A wolf. The word echoed in her mind as she continued to gaze at the moon, wondering what it would feel like to go for a run beneath its glow. She had gone for night runs a few times, but always decked out with a headlight and reflective clothing. She had never paid attention to the skies or the moon during those runs. They had been purely to take the edge off–to maintain focus and control.

But now she had an overwhelming urge to run–to be carefree. Maybe naked and barefoot on the beach. Only the glow of the moon to guide her steps.

Or she had consumed way more alcohol then she realized.

When Ruby emerged from the bar a minute later, nearly dragging a confused Chase behind her, Jenna fell into step next to them. She threw Chase an inquisitive look, but he only mouthed, “I’ll tell you later.”

Silence and tension engulfed the truck cab as Chase drove to Ruby’s hotel. Jenna leaned against the door in the back seat, staring at the passing corner stores and neighborhood houses until they pulled into the parking lot.

Ruby offered a terse “good-bye” as she got out and slammed the passenger door shut.

When she was halfway up the stairs to the second level, Chase let out a sigh and threw the truck into reverse.

“I don’t know what I did,” Jenna murmured.

“It wasn’t you.”

She supposed that was a good thing, but it did little to relieve the tension she felt floating in Ruby’s absence. She thought things had been good–really good–until she came back from the restroom.

“Will she–” the words caught in her throat. “Will she still help me with. . . things?” She looked into the rearview mirror where she caught the look that crossed Chase’s face.

“Yeah. She just needs to cool off.”

At the beach house, Jenna jumped out and made her way to the kitchen door, taking in the view of the glow of the moon across the waves cresting along the beach. Her heart raced as she imagined her feet pounding against the packed sand as she ran. . . ran. . . ran–

“I never did ask you if I could stay here,” Chase said, interrupting her thoughts, as he walked up behind her.

“Oh, yeah, of course you can.”

“Really? Cause I can get a hotel.”

Jenna met his eyes and saw the hesitation there. Gods. . . a four-hundred year old vampire was acting sheepish about needing a place to stay? Her lips quirked at the thought and she waved a hand nonchalantly towards the house. “And then I have to stay in this huge place by myself? Fuck no.”

A genuine smile lit up Chase’s face. He brushed past her, thumping her shoulder lightly. “You werewolves are such needy little creatures.”

Jenna rolled her eyes, following him into the house. “Don’t tell me you like being alone all the time, Brosnan.”

“You get used to it, I guess. . . after four-hundred years.” He waggled his eyebrows at her and she huffed out a laugh.

“I knew it!”

In the kitchen, Jenna shrugged out of her coat and hung it from a hook near the door. She watched as Chase poured two hearty glasses of bourbon, handing one to her.

She groaned. “We just spent the last three hours drinking at the bar!”

He gave her a pointed look, taking a step closer. “You barely drank anything.” He clanked his glass against hers. “Drink up.” The alcohol vanished in one giant swig. And then he was pouring another.

Jenna shook her head, taking a small sip and grimacing at the bite. She made her way to the living room, where she grabbed the TV remote, and got comfy on the couch. Feet propped up on the coffee table.

Chase joined her a moment later. She eyed the full glass and then gave him a side look.

“I’m shocked you made it to the couch without finishing it.”

“Oh, little wolf, you have no idea.”

Jenna raised an eyebrow. “Little wolf?” She had a vague memory of him calling her that a few nights prior.

He shrugged. “What show are we watching tonight?”

“Nope, you don’t get to evade the question.” Jenna angled her body towards him as she took another sip from her glass. God, it literally burned her insides. How did he enjoy this?

Chase reclined into the couch, arm stretched out along the back and Jenna couldn’t help but notice how close it was to her. A mere inches away. That arm had been around her last night. . .

How she had imagined it would feel to touch him. For him to touch her.

“What are you thinking about?” His voice was low and Jenna felt the rumble through her. Around her.

She was. . . she was thinking about the shower. Her hand between her legs. She was thinking about how damn hot he would look if it was his face there instead. . .

Her breath hitched at the thought and she could swear that Chase stilled.

“Jenna. . .” It was a warning. As if he could see the riptides forming inside her–the havoc that could be wrecked if she didn’t put a stop to the treacherous thoughts forming in her head.

It didn’t have to mean anything, she told herself. Just sex. Just a quelling of that need roiling inside of her.

Chase shifted, meaning to reach for the remote in her hand, but she tossed it onto the cushion behind her and leaned to remove his glass from his hand, setting it on the coffee table next to hers.

“What are you–”

But then she was sliding a leg over his lap, straddling him. She saw the bob of his throat, the way his dark eyes searched hers–asking questions that she didn’t care to answer. Not as she slid a hand up the length of his abdomen and chest. Not as she leaned forward, feeling the friction of him between her thighs.

Not as his hands clamped around her waist.

His eyes were on her lips and she felt it searing all the way through her. To her core. And then she was moving–closing the gap between them–until her lips were on his.

His fingers tightened on her waist as he returned the kiss, lips moving against hers. Tentative at first, and then he was devouring her.

The next chapter will release Sunday, March 10, at 6pm PST.