“Bree, wait! What’s wrong?” Dani chased after her but Bree hurried into the kitchen and down the servant’s quarters, disappearing into her room and slamming the door behind her.
Dani stood in the kitchen as Laura turned from where she was standing at the sink and frowned at her. “What’s wrong with Bree?”
“I don’t know. I – I’d better find Aunt Avery. Excuse me please Laura.”
She ran out of the kitchen and straight into James. She bounced off of him and he caught her before she could fall to the floor.
“Dani? What’s wrong?” He asked.
“I don’t know. Do you know where your mom is? I think I said something that upset Bree and I – “
“What did you say?” James shook her roughly, his voice harsh, and she frowned up at him.
“You’re hurting my arms James.”
“I’m sorry.” He let go of her and gave her a contrite look. “What were you and Bree talking about?”
“We were talking about Lycans and how you’re all so damn moody before the full moon. I said you would be fine after the hunt and that – “
James groaned. “Gods be damned. Where is she Dani?”
“She ran to her room. Should I go and find Aunt Avery?”
James hesitated. “Yes, I think you’d better. I’ll go and talk to Bree now, but I think she’ll feel better if mom is there.”
* * *
He knocked gently on her door and then opened it. “Bree? Can I come in?”
She looked up from where she was hurriedly packing her bag. “Get out of here James.”
He shook his head and entered the room, leaving the door open to try and ease her fear. “Listen to me honey. What Dani said – “
She stepped back and reached for her sword. She held it in front of her and pointed it at his chest. “I’m leaving and you can’t stop me. Dani told me about the hunt.”
“It’s deer Bree.”
“I thought you were different. I thought that – wait what?”
“We hunt deer. Not humans – deer.”
She stared at him for a moment, her entire body tense, and then suddenly dropped the sword and collapsed on the bed. She buried her face in her hands and rocked back and forth as he approached her gingerly and sat down beside her.
“I’m sorry honey. I should have told you we hunt during the full moon. It was foolish of me to forget. I promise you that we only hunt for deer and only during the full moon.”
He rubbed her back tentatively, and she surprised him by dropping her hands from her face and leaning against him. “I’m sorry.” She whispered. “I should have known better than to think that you would…”
She trailed off and looked up at him. “I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about.” He smiled at her and wiped away the tears that were visible on her cheeks. “With your history, it’s not surprising that learning that we hunt would frighten you.”
“How – how are you feeling?” She asked cautiously. This was the closest she had been to him in three days, and she was finding it difficult not to throw herself at him.
“Fine, why?” He asked.
She stared at his mouth. Dani had said the Lycans would be horny. She wondered if he was, wondered if he was anxious to kiss her and touch her and strip her naked. Her eyes dropped to his chest. She could see just a hint of his chest hair, and she clenched her hands into tight fists to stop herself from touching it.
“Bree?” James’ voice was worried and she raised her eyes to his. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” She licked her lips as she returned to staring at his mouth. He has such nice lips, she thought dimly. Her nipples hardened against her shirt as she pictured his mouth pulling gently on them. His tongue would be warm and would –
“Bree, stop looking at me like that, for the gods sake.” James’ whispered.
She dragged her gaze from his mouth and back to his eyes. A soft moan escaped her throat. They were completely green, and she could almost see the beard growing on his cheeks.
“James.” She whispered, nearly pleaded, and he groaned and cupped the back of her skull.
He bent and placed a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth. “You smell good Bree.” He murmured.
He sucked her lower lip into his mouth and traced it with his tongue, as her hands pressed against his chest.
“I’ve missed you.” He breathed before covering her mouth completely with his. Bree moaned and kissed him back. He gripped the back of her neck and massaged it gently as one big hand rested on her thigh. He rubbed her leg through her skirt, and she didn’t protest when he slipped his hand under her skirt and traced the bare skin of her thigh.