After the wreck, she’d needed something to help her cope as she’d suddenly developed severe anxiety when she was away from Janine for too long. It was because she’d suffered a great loss, and she had convinced herself that if she could keep her sister close, nothing bad could happen to her. She’d gotten better over the years, but couldn’t quite shake the anxiety completely. When Janine had gone on her vacation, which now Sherry knew must have been a horrible experience, she’d been dating Mike. It had helped having him there when she’d gotten anxious over Janine’s absence.
Unfortunately, she had more brotherly feelings toward him, and he hadn’t been extremely happy about that fact, but he was a good guy and graciously accepted it.
If she had known what had really happened to Janine when she’d been away, she would have probably had a nervous breakdown. She had a deep seated fear of losing anyone she loved, especially her sister. She didn’t blame her for not telling her the truth about what had happened on her vacation.
She’d known that she wouldn’t take the news well about her being in danger.
In fact, if she thought about it, all the werewolf stuff paled in comparison with the information that she could have lost her sister.
Werewolf stuff? She turned the tap on in the shower and was surprised at how fast the water turned steamy. For being out in the middle of nowhere, the accommodations were excellent—albeit a little too rustic for her taste.
She stepped under the water and let the heat and gentle massage of water bumping against her shoulders relax her.
Janine was worried for her safety. Not only that, but now things had started to make sense. Like why for the past few months Raze had insisted on walking her to her car after dark, or the way he seemed to be on constant vigil over her and Janine. If she had simply listened to her instincts, she would have figured out something was going on. She had laughed and gone along with it, thinking that Raze had simply been trying to be the macho protective male of the family to further impress Janine.
Yet, now she had to admit, it had seemed more than that. It had been as if he’d been expecting something to happen. Remembering now the way he’d constantly scan their surroundings made her stomach lurch. Everything they had told her was starting to sink in a bit, even though her brain still refused to accept it all. She’d almost asked Raze to change in front of her so she could prove once and for all that it had been a big joke, but something had stopped her from doing so. While the voice of reason screamed that werewolves were a myth, a tiny flutter deep in her chest warned her that she shouldn’t be so quick to cast off things that seemed impossible because she hadn’t seen it with her own two eyes.
After all, she had faith in a higher being, and she’d never witnessed said being in person either. She based much of her life on hope and faith, and those were two things that were not tangible. Too many people tended to base religion around a single entity, but what it boiled down to for her was believing that she wasn’t alone. Believing that someone watched over her.
Believing that her mother and father would be there waiting for her—
wherever they’d gone after they’d died—when she passed from this world.
She finished her shower, dried off, and dressed in sweats and a T-shirt.
She normally liked a bit more girly stuff to sleep in, but didn’t think it would be appropriate to wear sexy lingerie around Raze. Although, it would probably be fun to see if she could make him blush. All in good fun, of course, because she knew he only had eyes for her sister, which made her respect him that much more.
Chapter Four
He was dreaming of her again, but this time, it was something was different. Her features were clear to him. His heart nearly ceased beating in his chest at her beauty. Her red hair was thick, and shined like a copper penny. Her nose was small, her mouth was adorned by kissable pink lips, and her petite frame supported surprisingly full breasts that led to a tiny waist and gently flared hips.
“Who are you?”
Her soft, angelic voice nearly brought him to his knees. Her green eyes were wide as if she was scared—of him. A fierce wave of protectiveness followed by anger that she would be afraid of him slammed through his chest. Didn’t she know he was the one person that would never hurt her? He’d give his life for her, and if anyone else dared to hurt her, he’d take theirs.
“I’m Piers.” He kept his voice even and calm while his heart beat fast and hard.
“What is your name?”
“She-erry.”
The joy of hearing her name warmed him and made his cock twitch in anticipation of claiming her. A shudder of pure, unadulterated lust shot through him, but he had to go slow. She was tiny, and his size alone must be intimidating to her. God, she was beautiful.
He ached to reach out and touch her, tangle his fingers in all that glorious hair and tug her to him. Instead, he held his arms rigid at his sides.
“There’s no reason for you to be afraid of me, Sherry.” Her name was like heaven on his lips, and her flowery scent mixed with the mating scent that was for him alone teased him.
She looked around. They were in the cave, and he knew she’d be confused as it was the first dream connected to him that she would remember. It would seem so real to her—it was real…almost. There connection was strong, and whatever they shared in their dreams would seem as if it had really happened upon waking. Their souls were in tune to one another even if their bodies, their minds, had never met.
She was his and he was hers. Nothing on earth could change that. He took a step toward her, and she backed away from him, her eyes warily watching his every move. He took several deep breaths to calm the raging urge to take her. He wanted her to come to him willingly, without hesitation, and that would take time.
“Where am I?” she whispered.
“You’re dreaming.” He decided to keep it simple. If he explained that she was his destined mate and they were actually connecting through their minds while sleeping, she’d probably flip out and wake up. He wasn’t ready for the connection to be lost.
“Oh.”
He moved slowly and sat down on a big rock just inside the mouth of the cave, and patted the flat surface beside him, beckoning her to join him. He watched the hesitation play over her face and was relieved when she’d obviously decided to accept his invitation and began to come toward him. Her movement was graceful, and the subtle sway of her hips made his fingers itch to touch her. She was made for loving, and he doubted she was aware of her allure or the effect she was having on him.
Her feminine movements were an unintentional seduction. They came natural to her and made him think of long, sweaty nights, silk sheets and the sound of her voice crying out his name over and over as he filled her, claimed her, gave her pleasure.
She sat next to him, careful to keep some distance between them, as if she could escape if need be. He’d give her that small measure of comfort, no matter how misguided it may be.
His cock twitched again when he saw the perfectly painted red toenails that peeked out from under the bottom of her sweats. Holy hell. He’d had women over the years, but not one of them had come close to driving his body to the brink of desire that now stirred in him. And all because of her dainty toes.