Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
“Science is just as important as magic.”
— DONNA GRANT
A fter Knox and I had our heart-to-heart over a wheelbarrow of pony manure, he returned to the house with me. We weren’t hugging or going into business together, but we’d stopped flashing our canines at each other.
No one said anything about his stormy departure; they just welcomed us both back. I had to hand it to him too. He tried. He apologized gruffly to Sonnet for his rudeness and then made a point of laughing at all of her jokes. He’d even shared a funny story about some hijinks we’d gotten up to when we were kids.
We’d shifted, rolled in Momma’s twenty-pound bag of flour, and then scared the bejeezus out of some non-shifters who had been camping in the national park. I’d forgotten how close we’d been as kids, before our teenage years when our daddy had got real bad.
Eventually, Sonnet started to yawn. She got up real early to shoot on set and admitted she pretty much turned into Cinderella’s pumpkin at midnight.
I took her home in my truck, so I wouldn’t have to worry about her drifting off the road because she’d closed her eyes just for a second. She didn’t need to drive tired, seeing as how she had me. I’d run her rental car over tomorrow with Ranger.
She curled up sleepily, smiling and watching me drive. Mostly, we enjoyed a companionable silence. Neither of us had to be on or perform as just being together was enough.
“I was holding out hope for some famous Moonlight Valley parking, or maybe a sleepover at Alice and Ford’s mountain love nest,” Sonnet said on a sigh as soon as we pulled onto the gravel road leading to Phantom Falls.
“I could turn us around.” I couldn’t fight the smile on my face.
This earned me another sigh. “I’ve got an early flight tomorrow. I have to be at the airport at five in the morning.”
I’d vaguely known she would be traveling, having overheard Eric and Spike discussing the arrangements. Luke Hensley had demanded a private jet to accommodate his fourteen suitcases. You’d have thought he was relocating to Los Angeles, not flying back for a weekend of business meetings.
“I’ve got studio meetings about scripts and casting. It’s a there-and-back—just until Sunday night.” She bit her lower lip as we pulled into Wyatt’s drive. “Will you text me? Or call? While I’m away?”
“Yes.” I flashed her a smile, then passed her my unlocked phone. “Add yourself to my contacts.”
I walked around the truck to open her door while she added her number. She took my hands and let me swing her down to the ground, but she didn’t return the phone.
“We need someplace with decent light,” she said, scouting around. It was now plenty dark out, although there were stars, and the moon was rising. “Let’s try the porch. I’ve let Eric know we’re coming, so I promise there will be no assault tonight.”
I let her pull me along. I was happy to do so, seeing as how my position let me admire her amazing ass and legs. The edge of her wraparound skirt barely skimmed her thighs, reminding me that her stockings ended just above those peekaboo ruffles. I’d had my hands on her thighs. I’d touched her over her panties.
As soon as we made it to the porch, I pulled her into my arms. She tipped her head back, opening her mouth to say something, but I gently nipped her bottom lip with my teeth.
Her breath caught.
“Glamour off,” I growled. She didn’t ever need to hide who she was with me.
She let it go gently in a wash of gold sparks, but the prettiest color was the one washing over her face.
“Fucking beautiful.”
We surprised her , my wolf growled happily. She tastes good.
I licked the tiny sting away, sliding an arm around her waist and cupping her butt. I should’ve sent her inside, said good night, walked away, but I wanted to kiss her more. Taste her.
Night’s not over yet.
I certainly didn’t want it to be.
I wanted this amazing woman. It broke all my rules, how badly I wanted her.
Lucky, that’s what we are.
I agreed. So, I kissed my girl. And she pulled me into her, hanging on tightly and fitting her curvy self against me. I’d never been so turned on, and it seemed maybe she felt the same way. She moaned, eyes drifting shut as she relaxed and let me hold her up. Her tongue played with mine, teasing, inviting me in. Her amazing tits were pressed against my chest, her rounded ass in my palms. I used my grip to tug her closer, careful and sure, as my mouth consumed hers in a fiery kiss.
She wrapped her arms around my neck, her fingers playing with my hair as she arched into our kiss and my heated response.
She was the most important thing in the world to me.
She IS the world , my wolf argued before I forgot to think or plan or even worry about how much was too much. We kissed, and then kissed more.
Tugging her mouth from mine, Sonnet gasped out some words. Eventually they penetrated through the red haze of desire in my brain. Words like bad idea , we should stop , and Maverick .
I stopped.
She called the shots, and I’d honor that for the rest of our lives if she let me, but I was also encouraged by her disappointed groan. This was a stop for now and not a never again .
She was right too. It was not wise, our making out on the front porch of Wyatt Reynolds’s place. Her security team was always watching, plus Sonnet was a magnet for photographers. Cameras, drones—I had no idea how the paparazzi got their shots. I made a mental note to ask Ranger; I needed to know how to protect my girl from that crap. I wrapped her up in a hug, resting my chin on the top of her head while I thought about that.
She was vulnerable and our seeing each other would make her a target.
“I want to slide my fingers under the edge of your panties.” I nipped the sensitive skin beneath her ear. If I couldn’t do these things just yet, I’d enjoy the thoughts. “Slide inside you.”
“Your voice,” she breathed out in a rush. “That drawl. It’s so hot and melodic. It’s like I’m hearing a slow song every time you talk. Say something else.”
“What would you like me to say?”
“Whatever! Tell me a hot fantasy of yours.”
“What if it’s me making you hot?”
“ Sí , bueno , then it’s anything that makes you hot.”
We were stuck in some circular logic here. I grinned because, damn, I was happy. I also had ideas.
All the ideas , my wolf said happily. We’re gonna be BUSY.
“Maybe I sneak into your trailer when you’re on set, and I’m waiting for you when you come back. I’ll be in your bed, getting the party started without you, so I’ll have to make sure you catch up real fast.”
My face was still pressed against her hair, my hands holding her close, when I heard a soft click.
Danger.
I tensed, not-so-sexy adrenaline rushing through me. No one messed with a wolf and his mate. Lifting my head, I scouted the area for the source of the sound.
We’ll smash the cameras. Teach those paparazzi a lesson. No one violates our girl’s space.
Damn straight.
Nothing human lurked in the shadows around us. A rabbit disappeared into the underbrush, but there were no photographers, no drones overhead.
Sonnet watched me check out our surroundings, grinning mischievously. She was holding my phone out to the side, angled to take a shot of us together.
She was the photographer.
“This can be my contact photo!” She winked at me, then tapped away for a second before handing me back my phone. In the tiny circle above her contact info, the two of us kissed.
Video would have been better , my wolf volunteered. Or one of those moving photographs like Harry Potter has. Hoo boy. I could watch that ? —
I snorted softly. “You are trouble.”
“You like trouble,” she said saucily.
I gave her a quick kiss. “Apparently I do.”
I was a biologist.
I also had a very randy wolf who was not shy to comment.
This should have given me a leg up in the business of sexy texting, but I hadn’t allowed for my general lack of texting experience.
I was, as nearly as you could get, a texting virgin. I’d always figured that people who spent their days hunched over their phone screens, pecking away at an itty-bitty keyboard that was nothing but frustration, had small, frustrated lives. Missing out on the world around me would have been the mistake. Plus, if you wanted to say something to me, and you chose to say it in fifteen-point font, you didn’t have the sense God gave a goose. I was not going to pay attention.
Words, I figured, were best shared face-to-face. In my brothers’ case, this allowed for some important physical punctuation like a friendly punch to the shoulder, a wolfy love bite, or a slap upside the back of the head. Our family did not send greeting cards.
It took just two minutes and one text conversation with Sonnet on Saturday morning for me to see the light.
Sonnet: What are you doing?
Maverick: Building a rabbit hutch. You?
Sonnet: Thinking about you.
Uh-huh. I was an addict. I read and reread her two messages for a good five minutes, looking for subtexts. Hell, I gave them a full literary analysis. She was interested in my doings and looking to interact. And despite my boring-ass response, she was thinking about me . Those three words—words without even a simple subject or an adverb hinting at her sentiments... madly, enthusiastically, fondly, lustily ...I was not particular—proved that we had an honest-to-God relationship. I was not alone in my feelings.
Three hundred and six messages and thirty-six hours later, I was in danger of a severe case of capsulitis in my thumbs, thanks to my new texting addiction. I hadn’t run the risk of a repetitive strain injury since I’d discovered the joys of self-pleasuring, but I fell for the texting bait faster than a crawdad for a turkey leg. The picture of us kissing would flash across my screen, and I’d grab my phone, eager for my next hit of Sonnet. She was beautiful in that picture, but she was also just as funny and sassy via text message as she was in person.
Sonnet: If you rearrange the letters in your name, you can spell ‘Vic Maker’ and ‘Cake Vim.’
Sonnet: Also ‘Mack Vire’ and ‘Race Kim.’ You can sound like a Scotsman or a weird cake flavor! Now I want a snack. Also, if I buy you a kilt will you stride around the mountain in it? I have a non-cake-related fantasy.
Maverick: Yours spells ‘Onn Set.’
Sonnet: Close enough. Do you believe in destiny?
Sonnet: Because I do now ;)
I’d laughed out loud at that one, startling the baby squirrel I’d been feeding. What with all the momma squirrels giving birth in late summer, I’d had my hands full with well-intentioned people deciding that a solo baby meant it had been orphaned or had fallen out of a tree and needed human intervention. Sometimes, it was true. Mostly, it was not. Dwayne Junior here was almost ready to go back into the woods.
Throughout the day she’d sent me pictures of herself having Hollywood adventures. In the first one she’d posed in front of a breakfast table covered with crystal and fancy white flowers, her making a sad face, with the caption: No pink unicorn Frappuccino? WUT?! She’d also sent pictures from the green room of a TV studio, a spooky film set (caption: they have got werewolves ALL WRONG!!! ), and a long conference table with black leather chairs in front of a wall of exposed brick (caption: chair race time! ).
We’d pretty much texted nonstop since she’d boarded her flight, sending silly stuff back and forth or just narrating our day. I knew that someone had proposed a kale smoothie for lunch (along with her unhappy thoughts on “serving salad in a glass”); she had thumbs-upped my faux chicken salad hoagie.
Maverick: What time do you land tonight?
Sonnet: Tomorrow Two a.m.
Maverick: I can come get you.
Sonnet: No. You need your beauty sleep.
Sonnet: Not that you’re not already Mr. Awesomely Hot.
Sonnet: I’m gonna pitch a sexy lumberjack show. FYI. So, send shirtless pics please for my slide deck.
Maverick: Will you be in this show?
Sonnet: I hear there’s gonna be a shower scene! And a nekkid sexy times scene! Let me know if you want to practice ;)
We also texted about our families. Sonnet had a huge extended family clan back in the mountains near Mexico City. She’d drawn me a family tree on a napkin with her eyeliner pencil, and there were almost too many aunties, uncles, cousins, and second cousins to fit, not to mention her mami, papi, and her brother and sister. Getting ahead of myself—again—I made plans to get to work on a much, much bigger table for our family dinners. We were gonna have to host Thanksgiving in the barn to fit everyone in. Sonnet was the adopted baby of the family after her Fae bio dad had dropped her off on the doorstep. Apparently, she was half Chaneque, and the Fae dude had been one-hundred-percent asshole. The note he’d left pinned to her onesie had read: She’s half Chaneque and all yours . He hadn’t mentioned what had happened to her bio mom, but fortunately Sonnet had been welcomed with open arms by the Ruizes. Her older sister, Elena, was her manager.
Sonnet: I need a picture of you.
Maverick: Why?
Sonnet: So I can show Elena! Can’t show her us kissing!
Maverick: Nope. But here’s a cute baby squirrel pic.
Sonnet: Awww. Our firstborn is darling. But I still need a pic of my baby daddy’s face. Pony up.
Maverick: Earl says he’s the best pony. See attached pic.
Sonnet: Nice try.
Sonnet: Photo now PLZ
Maverick: I don’t do selfies
I chuckled. She’d sent me a selfie of herself making duck lips and flopped on her bed. The white duvet poofing up around her made her look like she was sinking in a cloud of marshmallow. I tried to decide if she was naked or not, but damn, there were sheets and the duvet, plus enough pillows to recreate Fort Sumter.
“Are you intending to share with the class?”
I glanced up, finding Sanye peeking at me from the door, a teasing smile on her lips.
It being Sunday, I was over at her place, checking in to make sure everything was shipshape. As was our habit, she’d invited me to stay for dinner. Also as usual, I’d accepted. I enjoyed her company, and she was an excellent cook.
“Nope.” I shook my head, tucking my phone into my pocket and getting back to work on fixing the weather stripping that had come off her back door. She would have one heck of a draft whistling through her kitchen in December if it were not replaced.
She grinned at me, undeterred. “Are you texting with a certain TV star?”
I flashed her my best grumpy scowl.
Seeing as how I couldn’t stop smiling like a common loon, my scowl had zero effect. “Come on, Mav. The curiosity is killing me. Ranger said she came over for dinner?”
“You two church ladies gossip about anyone else in Moonlight Valley? Or is it just me?”
“Don’t you hold out on me. I’m thrilled you’re dating.” Sanye waved the dish towel she held in one hand. “Ranger acts like he likes her, and if he likes her, she must be amazing. He’s the most particular person I know.”
You could also substitute peculiar .
“She’s amazing,” I admitted. Was it too soon to check my phone again?
“Details,” Sanye said impatiently. “When did you meet? How? Was your first date really at Biscuits & Blessings? Are you guys serious? What happens when her show wraps?”
That was a whole lot of questions, questions I had answers for right up until that last one. I didn’t know what we’d do after Smoky Spirits finished shooting. My smile slipped. “We haven’t made plans for after the show wraps, but we’ll figure it out.”
Run off to Vegas , my wolf prompted. Or just den in your love nest. I recommend you get right on that, FYI. Along with the biting. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
“So, you’ll keep seeing each other? This isn’t a summer romance kind of thing?”
I frowned. “It’s October, and I hope so.”
Understatement of the year , my wolf snapped. HELLO. Mate? We have to pursue her good and hard.
Uh-huh.
Also do other things good and hard if you catch my meaning.
LOVE her good and hard , I corrected.
And long. Thick.
I did not need adverbial suggestions from my wolf.
“Well, I’m thrilled.” The quiet sincerity in Sanye’s voice had me looking up from the weather stripping. “I’m glad you’re out there again, dating and falling in love. I wasn’t sure you were ever going to get that houseful of pups you want.”
“Hold your horses.” I stood, testing the door to make sure it opened and closed cleanly. “We’ve barely started to get to know each other. Don’t you rush to book the church just yet.”
“I know you.”
She’s rolling her eyes , my wolf groaned. You know she is. Your credibility is shot, I tell you. SHOT. You might as well head on over to the jeweler’s right now. Two months salary, dude. At a minimum.
“We’re taking things slow,” I said, both to Sanye and my wolf.
She snorted (as did my wolf). “You say that, and that just proves my point. You’re serious about her because you don’t want to screw this up. Bring her over for dinner. I promise I won’t go super fangirl on her,” she added, then muttered under her breath, “Just minorly so. I hope.”
I grinned at the closed door. “Maybe it’s time you tried getting out there too.”
“Now you hold up a minute,” she said. “I have plans. I just haven’t shared them yet.”
I opened and closed the door a few times, making sure it was smooth before turning to tease Sanye. “Nope. If you don’t say it, it doesn’t count. If I’ve put my heart out there, maybe you should too. We’ll be adventure buddies.”
Love buddies , my wolf said happily. Although that didn’t come out quite right.
Sanye made heart eyes at me. “Well, bless my biscuits. Maverick Boone, putting his heart out there. I never thought you’d go that far.”
“Ha ha.” I turned around to face her, folding my arms over my chest. “Why don’t you tell me all about you and Knox?”
Sanye stiffened, her smile falling.
Busted , my wolf crooned.
The idea of the two of them had been a niggle in the back of my head since Knox and I had had our confrontation, but I had not been sure. He and I had a lot to still work through, and I had plenty to atone for, and I guessed I’d thought that maybe I could help him out here.
Sticking your nose in another wolf’s love life is stupid. You are not Dr. Phil.
“Why would you tell him that you and I were a thing?”
A flash of guilt and regret passed over her face, quicker than quick. Sanye was the best at hiding her feelings. She’d certainly had plenty of practice during her tumultuous and unpleasant childhood.
“I didn’t tell him that,” she said defensively.
“Did you strongly hint that we were interested in each other or otherwise together?” I had meant my original remark as a joke, but there was clearly some business between my brother and Sanye.
She glared at me with blue eyes that held a wealth of hurt and bad memories. I knew she’d had a rough childhood. She was Lucky Jansen’s only daughter, and he was bad, bad news, not to mention the ringleader and president of the Iron Wolves, a nefarious businessman, and the asshole who had tried to blackmail and then beat up Ford. Saying he’d been a bad father would be like calling Ranger merely socially awkward. There was a wealth of intent and bad decision-making there, and Sanye had escaped the motorcycle club only by marrying Evan the day she turned eighteen.
Evan had treated her like a queen, but his gentle care could never have erased the years of abuse Lucky had subjected her to.
Turn on the charm , my wolf urged. You know that always works.
“Did you possibly hint to my brother, even indirectly, that we were seeing each other?”
She smiled ruefully, turning away. “I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“For causing problems between you and Knox.”
I waited for her to say something more, but she was quiet as a bear in winter.
Stubborn , my wolf said fondly. She’s good people.
She was practically family, and I didn’t like seeing her hurting. “Sanye, I don’t know what all happened between you and Knox but?—”
“Nothing at all,” she said quickly. “Nothing recently, that’s for sure. We just have a little history from before Evan. When we were teenagers.”
My wolf perked up. They were teenage lovers?
It was news to me too.
It also made Knox’s hostility in the barn all the more interesting. “Well now, you’ve got me feeling confused. I had no idea that something had happened between you and my brother.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she shook her head. “It was ages ago, Mav. I’m sorry if my silence about my ancient love life caused you any trouble. I sure didn’t mean to make things any tenser between you and Knox.” She grimaced. “But I didn’t deny anything when he flat out asked me.”
“What business of his was it if we were seeing each other?”
“None,” she said, her eyes sheeting amber. “It is none of his business.”