Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology)(8)

Noah gave a strangled growl, his eyes shut tight. “I shouldn’t have asked that. It was rude and honestly…damn it. I shouldn’t have asked that.”

She grinned at him, liking that he was all flustered. Now he knew how she felt constantly around him. Which was why, after she asked the next question, she wanted to fling herself off the nearest bridge.

“I take it Cailin was the last person you were with?”

Dear. Goddess.

Why had she asked that?

Noah’s eyes widened, and he blushed just as hard as she probably was. “Yes. So it’s been awhile. And Cailin and I are just friends. We used to be close, but she’s my best friend now. I’m close to Logan too. Her mate. Is that okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? I mean you’re not with her now obviously. She’s mated. And you’re here with me.”

She liked that. Him here with her. No matter how nervous she’d been at the start, she liked her hand in his, his wolf near hers. She could get used to it.

That was the exact reason she needed to be cautious. He could find his mate at any moment. It wouldn’t be good to get her hopes up when they would crash down at the first sign of fate’s interference.

“Okay then. So it’s good that I do this.”

He cupped her face, and she froze for a moment. Then as his lips brushed hers, she closed her eyes, sinking into him. The slight touch of his tongue against her lips made her moan, and she parted her lips for him. He took that as an invitation—and rightly so. She moved her hands up his back, pulling him closer as he deepened this kiss.

Her wolf howled, begging for more, and she could feel his wolf also, pushing, prodding, demanding.

Oh, how she wanted it all.

Craved it all.

Then he pulled back, breathless, his eyes dark yet rimmed with gold.

Aroused then.

Well, so was she.

Oh goddess, so was she.

“Let’s do that again,” she breathed.

He smiled full-out, white teeth against tan skin. “Let’s. But, first, let me take you to the picnic area. We’re almost there.” He took her hand, and they started on their way. “And, Em?”

“Yes, Noah?”

“This is one hell of a first date.”

She licked her lips, his taste still on her tongue. “Oh yes. Definitely.”

And she couldn’t wait for the second one.





Chapter Four


Noah needed help

Badly.

He stood outside North’s door, but didn’t knock. Sure, those inside could probably scent him, but he needed to calm himself and clear his thoughts before he walked in there and asked for help.

He’d never truly courted a woman before, and he had a feeling he was going about it all wrong. Shouldn’t Emeline know by now if he was a potential mate for her? He could feel the connection, feel the pull of his wolf, the swift shock of desire every time he laid eyes on her.

Hell, he could feel it at just the thought of her small smile and violet eyes.

Yet she showed no signs of feeling the same way.

No, in fact, she was surprised he wanted to be with her, rather than some young female wolf that would mean nothing to him. Everyone who might fit that bill paled in comparison to Emeline.

As if he’d be with anyone else.

Still, what if fate got it wrong? Maybe what he had was a strong case of lust and attraction.

His wolf raged within, scraping his claws along the inside of Noah’s chest, and he winced.

Okay, so that had been an idiotic idea.

Emeline was his.

He just had to prove it.

He had a feeling she couldn’t tell they were mates because it had been so long since she’d ever felt anything like it. Like it or not, she’d had a mate, Jeffrey, in the past and Noah would have to get over that.

She’d been oddly okay with his past with Cailin, and that was even more recent.

Though the fact she was readily okay with it wasn’t a good sign in itself. Maybe she didn’t think he was worth the trouble to get even a little jealous over.

Damn it. He needed to stop thinking about the worst-case scenarios—as in fate had f*cked him over and chosen a mate who wanted nothing to do with him in any way possible—and find a way into Emeline’s heart.

It would happen.

He was sure of it.

It would just be slow going.

He was okay with that though. All of the best things were worth the time it took to gain them.

With that thought, he finally knocked on the door.

Logan answered the door, his brows raised. “Took you long enough to knock.”

Noah grinned then walked inside, being sure to ram his shoulder into Logan’s as he did. Just because he had only friendly feelings for Logan’s mate now, it was still fun to badger the wolf. Logan snorted then pushed at him.

Hard.

Noah barely kept his balance and made his way to the couch where North sat drinking a beer. The other man faced him though Noah knew North couldn’t see him. Damn it, he and Emeline would fix this. No matter what. The man deserved to see his daughter and live his life to the fullest.

North might have been making due, but he was still a dominant wolf who’d lost his sight.

There was no coming back from that.

Not fully.

“Stop staring at me and feeling bad, Noah. I’m fine. Emeline is working on it, and I’m getting by. It’s not the end of the world. Now grab a beer and tell us your troubles.”