2. Jenny
Jenny
“ Y ou’re driving me crazy, Ariel,” Leo growls into my ear and his breath is so warm, his body so close. I melt into him, my curves perfectly aligning with the hard, angular lines of his.
“I need you, Leo,” I moan, my whole body on fire, my head swimming with the need for his touch.
“The taste of you drives me out of mind. I can’t stand to see another man near you. That fucker out there thought he could touch what’s mine. He’s lucky I didn’t kill him.”
I take a deep breath and pull my headphones off, shaking my hair out. My belly grumbles and I groan, standing up and stretching out. I lean over and save my work, smiling when I see how far I’ve gotten today.
Leo, my lion shifter from my next book in my paranormal shifter series is well on his way to being a favorite character of mine. Staring out the window into the dark of the night I sigh, my head a mess.
I’ve been so stuck on my new series for the longest time.
I’m six months behind on my delivery for the first draft of my story.
It seems like this year has been nothing but a pain in my ass.
I broke up with the man I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with.
It should have been perfect. He should have been perfect.
He’s a writer too so he understands the hours we both put into what we do. Or I thought he did.
But as soon as I signed my contract with the publisher and my deadline’s starting looming ahead of me, he started fighting with me endlessly.
He needed his ego stroked every time I turned around.
The last straw was when he told me that he didn’t want an icicle like me in bed.
If I didn’t give up the writing and start putting my focus where it needed to be, which was him by the way, then he didn’t see how we could stay together.
My mind has been a mess ever since. I mean, if you can’t make it work with a man who understands exactly what kind of work you have to put into what you do, because he does it too, then how the hell can any couple work?
But it doesn’t matter anyway. And I need to start getting my head out of my ass. He’s the one who had the problem. He’s the one with all the insecurities and they were all that he could see.
At least that’s what I tell myself. But this is my new start. My new life. And I don’t need some memories of an asshole to mess with what I’m starting right now.
My mind wanders to the guy I met earlier yesterday.
He was something. Gorgeous face and the sharpest amber eyes I’ve ever seen in my life.
A frisson runs through my belly and then my eyes wander to the screen that’s still open and they narrow.
Leo’s amber eyes. His big, bulky chest and narrow hips.
The way his firm lips twist in annoyance and the way his body is so freaking taut that you could bounce a quarter off his ass cheeks.
I glance out the window and frown. I can see Lance in my head and I growl under my breath.
Every word that I wrote to describe Leo is the spitting image of Leo, all the way down to the firm lips that twist when he’s pissed or about to say something that makes my girl want to smack the hell out of him.
And then kiss him.
Shoving those feelings way the hell down, I groan under my breath as my belly growls again.
I’m just hungry. That’s all it is. I just need to get something to eat.
I put my computer to sleep and then lock the windows and doors.
I pick up my room key off the table by the door and then let myself out, pausing as I pull the door closed.
Glancing down at my red bikini that I’m still wearing with a soft burgundy and pink floral sundress.
My bone thong sandals are light and feminine.
I look alright. I’m just getting something to eat. Probably on the beach. It’s not quite time for all the little restaurants that dot the sand to be closed and all of them allow casual dress. It is a beach. Casual’s kind of the name of the game.
My mind drifts back to my book and my fingers itch to get back to the computer. I’m on a roll. More so than I’ve been all year.
But there’s only so much you can do if you’re about to pass out from hunger.
I need food. Before I fall asleep on my computer keyboard. I’ve certainly done that a time or two.
I walk towards the beach and take a deep breath.
The night is crisp and clear but not cold.
Instead the salty air is wildly refreshing after the heat of the day.
The moon is low along the water and the reflection dances on the gentle waves lapping at the shoreline.
The sound relaxes me and I take another deep breath.
I feel like I’ve been treading water in the crazy bits of my life for the last few months. I haven’t been able to breathe for what feels like forever without my chest aching.
I walk into the first restaurant that I get to and the delicious smells of seafood tease my nose until my mouth salivates.
But as soon as I walk inside I see that all the table’s are full and it’s standing room only in the runoff area on the patio.
Several couples are standing next to the hostess stand waiting to be seated as well.
“Hello!” The cheerful woman in charge says, her pink hair curled like a halo on top of her delicate head. Her smile is just a touch forced but she’s trying. I try to smile back.
“Hi. I don’t have a reservation but I’m desperate. Is there any way I could get a seat? Maybe at the bar?” I don’t even need to turn to see that the bar is about six people deep. Cringing, I turn back to her.
Her smile dims a little and my stomach gurgles as my hope sinks. “I’m so sorry. But we’re so booked that it’s probably gonna be at least an hour wait.”
“Even for the bar?” My voice squeaks and I know I sound pathetic but I am starving!
“I’m so hungry. Do you know if any of the other restaurants have more space?”
Her lips tense again and I know that I’m about to hear that I’m out of luck. I knew that I should have tried to come out earlier. Now that all the people have started leaving the beach they’re looking for food.
“What’s going on, Mandy? Is my table still ready?” The deep, husky voice makes a thrill sizzle up the back of my spine and straight out to my fingers. My body is tingling and I groan under my breath.
I know that voice. And I know the man that goes with that voice. I turn around slowly, wishing I was wrong. But he’s standing there in all his glory. Six foot three of sturdy, sexy man. And what does he do when he sees me?
He growls like a damn bear and my whole belly clenches, my pussy tingling like I’ve just gone three rounds with my favorite personal device.
“You?” He growls, his lip curling like a feral beast.
Honestly? I kinda like it. Grinning, I hold out my hand. “Lance? It’s so nice to see you. How’s your vacation going?”
He backs up and away from my hand like I’m chock full of cooties or something and I just grin bigger.
I swear. I don’t know what was wrong with me yesterday but today? I’m really liking this guy.
Or maybe I just like making him snarl!