23. Celina

TWENTY-THREE

CELINA

The bodyguard Miles had assigned to me parked beside my car at the thrift store. I waved at him, and he responded with a subdued nod. Miles had a well-trained team, but they really could use a little personality. This place had been on my list to visit for several days. My brain couldn't stop working. Not only did I have so many ideas for stories to write, but I had plans for some craft projects and décor for my apartment.

When my phone rang, I took it out of my pocket and glanced at the screen. Tiffany. I'd sent her five more chapters the night before. I was sure she wanted to talk about them. Hopefully, she liked them, since I thought they were pretty good.

"Celina?" Tiffany's voice sounded exuberant.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Oh. My. God! Girl, this book is so good. It might be the best thing you've ever written."

"Seriously? You think it's that good?"

"I do. I'm going to start sending out samples to the big publishers. I think we might get into a bidding war. I may even float a few back channels about selling the film or TV rights. Absolutely outstanding, Celina."

"Wow, thanks. I felt good about it, but this makes me feel even better. Like I'm on the right track with this book."

"Honey, you are more than on the right track, you own the whole damned road. Honestly, Celina, I was a little leery of you going to some one-horse town in the middle of nowhere to relax. I was wrong. This might have been the best thing for you."

A smile crept onto my face, and my mind drifted to Miles. Since I first met him, my creativity had been off the charts. He was definitely my muse. "Yeah, I think you're right."

"Okay, I need to get a hold of some people for this book. I'll talk to you later."

I hung up and slid my phone into my pocket, feeling better than I had in days. I always talked down to myself. Every time I wrote a book, I always assumed everyone would hate it, no matter how much I loved the story. It was a holdover from childhood that I couldn't get rid of. It never got old hearing someone tell me I did a good job.

I spent the next several minutes browsing through the store before grabbing an antique window frame, a distressed mirror, and a small bookcase that looked the worse for wear, but I figured I could revitalize it into something fantastic. The cart I'd grabbed was completely full when my phone rang again.

My heart lurched when I saw Felicity's name on the screen. Miles had said that she'd try to contact me again, but I hadn't really believed it. I'd pretty much assumed she would disappear from my life. Now she was calling me. Miles had told me to act as though nothing had changed when she called. I decided to find out how good I was at acting and hit the green button.

"Hey, Felicity."

"Thank goodness you answered."

"Of course, why wouldn't I?"

"Last time we talked, we…oh, never mind. How was Thanksgiving?"

"It was great. I had a wonderful time with Miles and his friends." I tried my best not to make that sentence sound like I was rubbing something in, but I wasn't sure I'd been successful.

"That's nice."

"How was yours?" I asked, attempting to sound like I cared.

"Amazing. My mom came to town and surprised me. We had such a good time. Even went out for Black Friday shopping. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun."

My blood ran cold as she spoke about something that never happened. I knew for a fact her mother was dead. Not only that, she was dead because Felicity had helped lead her psychotic father to her and her lover. Felicity may not have pulled the trigger on the gun that killed her, but she might as well have been holding it. She lied so effortlessly that––had I not known the truth––I would have totally believed everything she was saying.

I'd been quiet for several seconds as I'd thought about her lies, and suddenly realized we were both silent. My mind raced to get back on track and try to fill the gap with something, anything , to say.

"Do you hate me?" Felicity asked.

Her question caught me off guard. How was I supposed to answer that? Did I hate her? I didn't really know. Like Miles said, her father had bent and twisted her into the murderous thing she was now. She was trying to kill the man I was falling in love with. Not only him, but his friends and their wives. But I had to try and make her think things were still good between us. All these thoughts bounced through my head in a split second.

"What? Why would I hate you?" I asked.

She sighed heavily. "I haven't been a great friend. I was a bitch, and I don't blame you for wanting to keep your distance."

"You were hurt, I understand that. I'm sorry I canceled our Thanksgiving plans."

"God, when you say it like that, I sound even more petty than I already thought I was."

"It's fine, really. I get it. Don't beat yourself up over this." My acting must have been pretty good. It sounded like she was buying it.

I could hear her breathing on the other end of the line. Part of me hoped she'd hang up and make this easier on me. Another part was wishing she'd say something. I kept thinking of what might happen if she really did disappear. How could we try to find out what the plan was if we didn't know where she was?

After several seconds, Felicity finally spoke. "You're way too nice to me. I don't deserve it, but thank you. Can I try and make it up to you? What about grabbing a coffee or lunch? My treat?"

This was turning into a really shitty day. It had started out so good, and now I was making a damned lunch date with a woman I didn't want to be around. Still, I had to act like I was the same old me. Before I knew who Felicity really was and what she was capable of, I'd have agreed. So…here I was, stuck between a rock and a hard place.

"Sure," I said through gritted teeth. "That sounds like a great idea."

"Oh, thank God. I promise, no crazy Felicity this time. How about coffee and sandwiches at that bakery downtown?"

"Great. Text me when," I said, then immediately screamed in my head: Please get off the phone and leave me alone!

"Cool, I'll let you know by tomorrow."

Once we'd ended the call, I felt dirty, like I'd done something terrible or unspeakable. I wasn't sure if it was the lying or the fact that I'd made a lunch date with the devil. Before I went to pay for my things, I called Miles.

"Are you okay?" It was the first thing out of his mouth. After living my whole life wondering if anyone would care if I lived or died, it was nice to have someone care about me like that.

"I'm fine, but Felicity called me a second ago."

"For real? What did she say?"

I chuckled. "Nothing. Nothing real anyway. She told me how she had a great holiday with her mother. She conveniently left out the part where her mom has been dead for a few years. Anyway, I did what you told me. I played it cool and acted like I didn't know anything."

"Okay." He sounded calmer. "Do you think it worked?"

"I guess. We have a lunch date planned."

"Damn, all right. Do you know what day yet?"

"She said she'd text me."

"Let me know whatever she says. Remember, I'll be nearby whenever and wherever this lunch happens. I don't think she'll try anything in public, but you never know. Stay alert. The hunters are starting to get desperate, and who knows what they're really up to."

"I can do that. I'm going to head home. I've got some stuff I want to work on."

"I'll stop by later to see you."

I purchased my items, then drove to a home improvement store where I bought some sandpaper, paint, and brushes before heading home. I was thankful to see the black sedan following me everywhere. It was good to know someone was watching my back.

Several hours later, my doorbell rang. I nearly jumped at the sound. Thankfully, I didn't since I had a paintbrush loaded with paint in my hand. I really didn't want to lose my security deposit on this place. The bookshelf I'd bought was sitting on an old sheet in the middle of my living room. There was dust everywhere from the sanding I'd done and one full coat of paint on it already. I put the brush back on a paper plate I was using as a paint palette and went to the door. I checked to make sure it was Miles, then unlocked and opened the door when I saw it was him.

"Hey, sorry I'm a little…" He trailed off and gaped at me.

I frowned and looked down at myself. I was pretty much covered in paint and sawdust. My old sweatpants and the torn T-shirt I wore were equally stained. Most of it came from the mirror I'd worked on earlier. In my rush to work on the projects, I'd gotten into a zone, and now I looked like a paint store had vomited all over me.

"Uh, what the heck happened to you?" Miles asked as a smile started to spread across his lips.

"Ugh, shit, I'm working on a few restoration projects. I found some things at the thrift store and wanted to spiff them up." I stepped aside to let him in. "I like that better than buying new stuff. It has more character, and I get to put a little piece of myself into each item."

Miles closed the door and locked it behind him, then checked out the mirror I'd already hung before looking at the bookshelf. I was pretty proud of how the mirror turned out, but I wanted to hear his opinion.

He looked back at me over his shoulder. "You're pretty amazing, you know that? Best-selling author and Bob-Villa impersonator."

I looked at him, and frowned. "Who the heck is Bob Villa?"

Miles groaned and tilted his head back. "Jesus, that makes me feel old as hell. Never mind. You did a really good job on this. I envy your creativity and the way your mind works. I'd have seen this stuff and called it junk, now they're beautiful pieces of artwork. Pretty impressive."

I grinned like a little kid on Christmas. He liked them! It made me feel all warm and fuzzy. It would have been pretty shitty for me to do all that work to just haul it out to the curb because it was nothing but garbage.

"Thanks. The bookshelf needs another couple of coats, but I can already tell it's gonna look good."

I noticed the plastic bags Miles was carrying. I'd been so excited to show him what I was working on I hadn't seen the bags. "What do you have there, big guy?"

He raised the plastic bags. "Take out. I hope you like soul food. This little old lady runs a little takeout place out of her garage."

"Soul food?" I asked, not sure I knew what he meant.

"For real? Fried pork chops? Collard greens and mac and cheese? Cornbread and peach cobbler?"

"I know all those foods, but I didn't know they were their own type of cuisine," I said, shrugging.

"Lord. We have to get you out more. You're missing out. I'm making that my mission. Okay, go get cleaned up. You can take a quick shower while I plate this all up and reheat it."

He was right, I did need to get out more. If nothing else, it would help my writing. Even though he was right, I still stuck my tongue out at him as I went to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I wrapped myself in my thick robe. Though my apartment was warm enough, it was freezing outside, and as tempting as it was to wear the skimpy robe Miles saw me in before, I would have been even colder in that than if I walked out naked. That mental image, and the thought of what Miles might do if I actually did that, made me clap my hand to my mouth to stifle a giggle. I tied the sash and went out.

The reheated food smelled amazing, and I realized I'd done what I always did: got into the zone on a project and forgot to eat. I didn't think I'd had anything since breakfast. I went and stood by the table as Miles set down the last bowl. It was the most delicious-looking peach cobbler I'd ever seen.

I raised an eyebrow. "One little old lady makes all this out of her garage?"

"Well, she had her sons revamp the garage into a kitchen, but yeah, basically."

"Whatever, let's eat, I'm starving."

We sat and…talked. It shouldn't sound so strange, but for me, it kinda was. I'd never felt so comfortable with anyone. So much had changed in a few short weeks that I almost couldn't believe it was real. The conversation was so banal that anyone listening would probably be bored out of their mind, but I thought it was wonderful. Miles, though, seemed a little lost in his head. It was like he was trying to be in two places at once. He was doing a great job of it, but I still noticed.

"Are you okay? I feel like you're thinking about something," I said, taking a bite of collard greens.

He put his fork down and leaned back in his chair, rubbing at the stubble on his chin. "That noticeable, huh?"

I shrugged and kept chewing.

"I've been calling all the other packs we know of to let them know everything we've found out about the hunters. One of the packs I had to call was my old pack leader. It was rough. I guess I should give you the whole story. You need to hear it."

I did want to hear it. So much of Miles's personality seemed to be tied up in whatever had happened to him back when he left. It had to have been something huge or tragic. Forgetting my food, I leaned forward, so I could listen.

"I was in love with a girl named Liz." He stopped abruptly and laughed. "Sorry, that sounds like the start to a bad novel. Anyway, Liz and I had been together since we were like twelve or thirteen. Head over heels in love. She was the first girl who'd ever loved me back, and I knew, absolutely knew that we were going to be mates and end up together."

I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. This story already sounded like it wouldn't end well. I was already dreading hearing any more, and he wasn't even at the bad part. I kept quiet, though, not wanting to interrupt his story.

"We got to high school, and things were going along like you'd imagine. Lovey-dovey notes to each other, angsty teenage sex, and plans and talks about the future. It was smooth as silk. Until"—he snapped his fingers, making me jump—"it wasn't. One day, out of the blue, Liz wouldn't respond to any calls. She skipped the classes we had together and avoided me in the halls. I even went to her house, but her parents said she wasn't home. This went on for…I don't know, three or four days.

"Finally, I asked one of her friends what was going on with her. If I'd pissed her off in some way. She gave me this real guilty look, and I could tell she was debating over what to tell me. That was the first moment I knew something was badly wrong. So, instead of telling me outright, this chick gives me an address. That's it, a piece of paper with a street address scrawled on it. Then she heads off on her way.

"I didn't recognize the address until I got on the street. A lot of the pack lived in that neighborhood. The house she'd sent me to was the home of the pack alpha—basically the king. I'd been born an alpha, but his son was next in line. I was cool with that. And I'd always been cool with his son, too. It was the middle of the day, and the dad was at work, but…" Miles stopped and made a snarling face, one lip curled like a pissed-off wolf. "But I could hear people inside the house."

"What…what did you hear?" I asked, even though I was almost a hundred percent sure I already knew.

"Fucking. The sounds of two people fucking each other's brains out. I lost it, kicked down the door, and barged in. I found them on the bed on the main floor. They weren't even under the sheets. I think it wouldn't have been as bad if at least some of it had been covered up. No. He had Liz bent over the side of the bed and…shit, you get the point. They saw me and screamed for me to get out." His eyes went distant. "Liz didn't even look ashamed of what she'd done. She was more angry that I'd…I don't know…interrupted them. I walked home, fucking dazed out of my mind. I alternated between sobbing and kicking rocks as hard as I could. Punched a couple trees and fence posts too. If I hadn't had my shifter strength, I totally would have broken my hands."

"Did you leave after that? Is that why you left?" I asked.

He looked at me, and my heart almost broke. He'd never looked so sad. He shook his head. "Nah. I was heartbroken, but I had nowhere else to go. So, after a day or two of sobbing in my room until I vomited, I finally went back to school. The first day back, the alpha's son shoved me into a locker, got right in my face, and taunted me. Told me how good my girlfriend's pussy tasted, how tight her asshole was around his cock—all kinds of vile shit. I lost it. Straight up lost my shit. I proceeded to beat the fuck out of him right there. He was the next alpha, but I was always stronger and bigger. Three of his friends tried to pull me off him, but they couldn't fight me when I was in that state. I broke his jaw, gave him a concussion, busted both eye sockets, cracked three ribs, and knocked out five teeth. He somehow also broke three toes and a finger in the fight. The worst was when I kicked him in the stomach and lacerated his pancreas."

"Oh my God," I whispered, putting my hand to my mouth.

Miles chewed the inside of his cheek for a minute before continuing. "Yeah, if he wasn't a shifter, he woulda been dead. The cops arrested me, but the alpha wanted to deal with things in the pack. I was a minor, and he didn't press charges, so the cops let me go. What you have to know is that, at least in wolf packs, an attack on the alpha or the alpha heir is punishable by death."

I gasped. They killed people? For fighting? I knew that what Miles had done was much more than a fight, but the death penalty seemed a little excessive. I tried to remind myself that these people lived in a different world with different rules.

"He brought me up and told me what the penalty was. My parents begged for my life. My…my dad even offered his life for mine." Tears were forming in Miles's eyes, and I could tell it was painful for him to remember. "The alpha took pity on me. Instead of death, he banished me. Never to return or contact anyone in the pack again. Not even a phone call. My parents said they'd go with me. That night, I realized I couldn't let them suffer banishment for something they didn't do. So, I left. Dead of night, with a bag of my stuff and five hundred dollars. I disappeared, and I haven't seen or spoken to my parents ever since. I send them postcards every now and then, but I never sign my name or include any details about my identity, just in case someone else in the pack sees them."

"Are you serious?" I asked, incredulous. "You were banished? How is that fair? Anyone would have done the same thing in your shoes." The anger that had been building inside me as I listened to his story was now boiling over. "That's such horseshit. He gets to steal the woman you love, and rub your face in it, and you're the one who gets punished?"

Miles chuckled humorlessly. "You didn't see him after the fight. He got punished pretty good."

"You know what I mean. He deserved what he got. And even if the alpha was his dad, he should have realized that."

"The alpha did sound like he had some remorse when I talked to him today. His son died in one of the shifter attacks. I'm pretty sure he's seeing things from mine and my parents' perspectives now."

I hadn't known the guy was dead, and that made me feel a little guilty for talking about him like I did. I wasn't the kind of person who spoke ill of the dead—even if the guy had been an asshole. Even assholes had people who loved them. I still stood by my feelings, though. Miles didn't deserve to be cast out that way.

"Did you ever get over Liz?" I asked.

He nodded. "Years ago. I don't love her anymore. I'm pretty sure the love I had died the moment I saw her banging another dude. It fucked my head up pretty good. I gave her everything I had, and she pissed it away like it meant nothing. I loved her so hard for so long, and it wasn't enough. Ever since, I've had this fear of letting myself love another person. I wasn't sure I could handle losing anyone else again." Miles looked at me. "Not until the right person came along to show me it was worth it."

Those words made my heart stutter. I couldn't hold his stare, so I looked down at my hands. "You have to stop saying things like that to me."

He grinned. "Don't count on it."

I thought about what he'd told me about the curse. And I needed to know if he was okay. I didn't want to be the reason he was in more pain. I reached across the table and took his hand. "Are you feeling okay? Has the curse caused any issues for you yet?"

"Nothing terrible." His eyes smoldered as he looked at me. "But my wolf has been filling my head with some dirty thoughts."

An intense heat rose between my legs, memories of the last time he'd touched me flashing through my mind. My breath left me in shallow gasps. The apartment was suddenly full of sexual tension so palpable it could be cut with a knife. I could remember the way his tongue slid inside me, how his fingers stroked part of me that no man had ever touched before, and how fucking good it felt.

"Do you want to try something new tonight?" he whispered.

My head was nodding before I even had a chance to think of an answer. The answer, obviously, was yes. I wanted it more than ever. He smiled, and I couldn't help but think he looked a little like a wolf when he did. He stood and took me by the hand, leading me into the bedroom. I followed, already feeling how wet I was as I walked.

He closed the door and pulled his shirt over his head. Then he kicked off his shoes and pulled off his socks and pants. Naked, he stood before me, and I gazed at him. I'd never seen a body so perfect. Every muscle was defined and perfect. He looked like he'd stepped out of a comic book or something. His abs rippled as he bent, tucking his thumbs into his underwear, sliding them down his legs. My eyes widened. This was the first time I'd ever seen him naked. The first man I'd ever seen naked in real life. It couldn't get much better than this. No way.

My gaze drifted below his waist to his cock. My breath caught as I tried to figure out how it could look so weird, strange, and so goddamned gorgeous all at the same time. I could actually see it thickening and hardening the longer I looked at it.

"I'm yours to do with as you want tonight," he said.

I took several gasping breaths before I was able to actually form words. "I…uh…I don't know what to do."

He smiled and sat on the bed, patting the spot beside him. "That's fine. I think it'll be fun to show you."

So much confidence. My God, how could any person be so confident? I bit my lower lip. I wanted to show him I had a little bit of confidence as well. Before I could talk myself out of it, I pulled my robe off and tossed it on the bed. The cool air brushed over my breasts, and my nipples ached pleasantly as they hardened. Miles's grin deepened as he watched me. The desire on his face boosted my confidence as I got on the bed with him.

He lay back, his hard cock jutting upwards. All I wanted was to touch it. Miles, seeing where my eyes were, took my hand and gently guided it to him.

"It's okay. I want you to touch me," he whispered.

I wrapped my hand around his dick. I was shocked at the warmth that came off it. His cock was so thick my fingers barely touched around his girth. My clit throbbed as I stroked him. A stuttering breath left Miles's mouth, and I knew I was doing it right. I went up and down the shaft several times, getting more comfortable with it. I slid my other hand down his stomach, feeling the firm bumps of his abs.

Miles wrapped his hand around mine and showed me what he liked—long, slow strokes that went all the way up to the head and then back down. His hips moved in time with our hands, and I could feel his desire growing along with my own. I was desperate to slip my hand between my own legs, but I held off, wanting to give Miles my full attention.

Suddenly, he pulled my hand away and looked into my eyes. His own breathing was coming fast, almost panting. "You don't have to, but do you want to put it in your mouth?"

"Yes." The word burst out of my mouth. My inhibitions had vanished in a haze of excitement. I'd never been so horny, and I didn't think I'd say no to anything at that moment.

"Okay, do you know what to do?" he asked, and I shook my head. "That's fine. Lips, tongue. No teeth."

I smiled. "I can do that."

I lowered my head and took him in my mouth. Miles gasped and clutched my ass, his fingers digging into my flesh. I sucked at the head of his cock and slid my hand down to his balls. They had a strange and pleasant velvety softness to them. My other hand took hold of his dick, and I moved my lips down his shaft as far as I could go. I was happily surprised when Miles sucked in a breath, cursed, and arched his back. I was doing this. It was really happening, and I was doing a good job.

Emboldened by my success, I took more of him into my mouth. I wanted to make him feel good. I wanted to make him come. Feeling this strong, powerful man turn to jelly when I was using nothing but my hands and mouth made me feel so powerful and in control. That feeling caused a surge in me, and I sucked at his head, then slid my lips down. Over and over.

"God, Celina. Don't stop," he murmured.

I had no intention of stopping.

Miles slipped a finger into me, and I groaned around his cock. He slid a second finger inside me, and I almost screamed in ecstasy. Instead of screaming, I moved my mouth even quicker, my saliva lubricating the thick muscular flesh of his shaft. Miles thrust his fingers faster and faster, moving in time to my mouth. His other hand drifted to one of my nipples, pinching gently. I shuddered as I neared climax. I was desperate to feel it again, to have that explosion rock me to my core like the last time. But this night was about both of us.

I took the head of his cock in my mouth and sucked, sliding my tongue across it and stroking the shaft. Miles gasped and cursed under his breath. His hips trembled beneath me, and I reveled in it. I wanted to know that I could make him feel as good as he'd made me feel.

"Celina…uh…I'm gonna come."

I flicked my tongue across the head of his dick even faster. His cock spasmed in my hands and mouth, and a bitter salty-sweet liquid filled my mouth. It was not as unpleasant as I'd expected.

Before I could even bask in the glory of what I'd done to him, my own body began to quiver as an explosive climax rippled through me. My mouth dropped open, and I wrapped my arms around his legs, hugging him as I turned into a convulsing orgasmic mess.

We lay there, gasping for breath for several minutes. Miles sat up and pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me and putting his lips to my ear. "You're so beautiful. I want you to know how much it means to me that you trust me. That we have this. I promise, I'll make our first time special."

I curled into him, already wanting to fall asleep. He lifted the covers over us and settled down with my head on his chest. I'd never been so happy before in my whole life. It may have been a curse, but I was happy it had been cast. It had brought me to Lilly Valley and to Miles.