Her family had been quiet. They’d left her to think things over. Jess had heard her parents arguing once all the Prides had answered all their questions, eaten dinner, and left the other night. Last night they had all been cautious of Brandon, and as Jess went to bed she heard her parents arguing again. Jess was exhausted, and she was unsure she’d done the right thing in telling her parents everything.
Yesterday’s recovery day had been just what she needed. Jess had talked to Zeck. He was tired, scared and sounded very unsure of everything. Travis wasn’t doing as well as Zeck. Jess was really worried about Travis. Tomorrow was Christmas, and he’d been excited to spend it with his nephew and her. When Brandon dropped her home Jess was going over to check on him.
A knock on her bedroom door had her smiling. “Come in.”
Brandon came in, and her smiled died as she saw him. Under his eyes were black like he’d not slept; his blond hair was tousled and lifeless, and his skin didn’t look its usual olive color. Jess felt terrible. Had she been so self-absorbed she hadn’t seen how everything was affecting him? The rest she’d had yesterday had worked wonders. She’d noticed last night he was quiet but put it off to him getting used to everything she’d asked.
Going to him Jess pushed him down onto her bed and brushed strands of hair out of his eyes. Brandon leaned into her touch and took deep breaths in. “How are you feeling today, sweetheart?”
Jess sat next to him, and Brandon lifted her and set her on his lap wrapping his arms around her. How was she feeling? She was feeling a million times better, and she was happy he thought she was worth everything he’d gone through and was giving her everything. Jess was doing great, but he didn’t look so good. “I’m doing great thanks to you. How about we go to bowling today and can do ice skating another day. I think we could go to your house and watch a movie. You look exhausted.”
Brandon nuzzled her neck. “I’m feeling better now I’m with you, but I like what you suggested better.” He sighed and placed her back next to him, then got up. “Let’s go. I have a lane booked for in half an hour. By the time we get there and get our shoes on it’ll be time.”
Jess stood and took his hand. “Sounds good. Let’s go. I think whoever wins gets to choose the movie we watch later.”
Brandon grinned. “That’s a bit unfair for you. You’re only human, and I’m a superior shifter.”
“Superior to humans, hey?”
“Well yeah, because shifters are better at sports and almost everything.”
Jess couldn’t believe what she was hearing Brandon say. She yelled to her parents telling them she was leaving and would be back late tonight. She then opened the door and walked down to Brandon’s car. Brandon opened her car door, and she got in. He got in the driver’s side and started the car. “Okay, if you think you’re going to win and it’s unfair, how about we make it a bit more even?”
“How do you suppose we do that?”
“I can touch and say anything I want to you while you bowl as long as I don’t touch the bowling ball or your arm that throws it?”
Brandon glanced at her and raised her eyebrow. “I’m good with that. I still say it is unfair.”
Jess smiled and winked at him. “Don’t worry. I’m not.” Jess loved bowling. She, Zeck, and Travis used to play almost every weekend. When they’d been younger they’d even been in a bowling league. Jess debated if she should tell Brandon, but his comment about her being just human and him being a better a powerful shifter had her annoyed. Brandon needed to know shifters had a weakness and that she could do things just as well as he could.
Once they had their shoes on and were told their lane Jess went and carefully choose her ball and went back to Brandon. He looked better than he had at her house half an hour ago. His gaze followed her with lust clear in it. Jess felt empowered. No man had ever looked at her the way Brandon did with her.
Jess sat next to him at the computer as he typed her name, then his. “I’ll let you go first.”
Jess nodded and stood. She got her bowling ball and walked to the aisle. Lining her body where she wanted it she aimed and rolled the bowl smiling when all but two pins fell. Jess was a little rusty, but it shouldn’t take her long to warm up. Her ball came back up, and she reached it and walked back to her spot. Aiming her ball she rolled it watching it hit the remaining two. Turning she grinned at Brandon. “Your turn.”
Brandon got up and reached for his ball. Jess didn’t do or say anything. She wanted to watch him before she used the deal they’d made. He glanced back at her as he reached the aisle. She smiled and waved at him. Brandon turned back to the aisle and with way too much force threw his ball down. Jess winced as the ball hit the ground and rolled to the side. Brandon frowned and went to wait for his ball to come back up. This time he didn’t throw the ball as hard, but it still went to the side. He stormed back to the seat and sat next to her.