Nights Embrace (Others of Seattle) (5 page)

BOOK: Nights Embrace (Others of Seattle)
13.23Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Trevor took his hand with a smile.

Roxy beamed up at Tyler. “This is Trevor from Lunar Storm. They are my new favorite band, and I truly mean that.” Her eyes rounded. “That probably sounds creepy and stalkerish, but they really are great.”

“They were,” Skylar added.

Trevor turned to Roxy, a wicked glint in his jade green eyes. “Nights Embrace is a hundred times better.”

She snorted.
“No, we really weren’t.”

Skylar
giggled. “You two have a good day, but for god’s sake don’t behave.” She hopped up and left the table with Tyler.

The waitress walked up and Roxy handed her credit card over before Trevor could argue.

“I was going to get that,” he told her before leaning in to taste her mouth briefly.

She nearly melted on the spot.
“But I wanted to.” She nipped his bottom lip, and somewhere in the back of her head she thought,
too fast.
The rest of her was screaming at that voice to
Shut the hell up.

Trevor stood and waved to
Skylar and Tyler. Roxy did too.

Skylar
narrowed her eyes. “Oh, Roxy,” she sing-songed from her table in the back. “Before I forget, turn your damned phone on. I would have warned you about Jackass if I could have gotten through.”

She sighed.
“Fine, fine. Catch you in the morning.” Roxy turned and hurried out of the restaurant.

Trevor purred against her ear, “Would you like to walk?”

She shivered. “I’d love to.”

He pulled her close and they crossed the street to the beach.
“Your phone,” he gently reminded her.

With a sigh, she pulled it out and turned it on. It went right back in her pocket without a second glance.

“Are you one of those women who won’t check her messages?”

“On Sundays
, when I’m not expecting calls, and I’m with the only person I want to spend time with? No.”

He gave her a surprised smile.
“I’m the only one you want to spend time with?”

“Yeah.” She lifted a shoulder in a shrug, a slight smile curving her lips. “You’ve brightened my outlook on a day
that started awfully dark and dreary.”

He
pulled her to a stop and tipped her face up with a gentle nudge. “I’ll gladly brighten any day if it’s within my power.”

Leaning in, he brushed his lips over her jaw before traveling to her mouth. She opened to him, pulling him closer as her fingers dug into his back. His arms wound around her.

Then her damned phone rang, startling the hell out of her. He only pulled her closer, nipping at her ear. “Better get that,” he playfully told her.

She pulled the phone out and before she could get it to her ear, she heard
Skylar’s squeal of delight. “Better get a room Nights!”

Roxy groaned.
“Yeah, thanks. Talk to you later.” She slipped her phone back in her pocket.

Trevor glanced away with a smile.
“Sorry. I can’t seem to keep my hands to myself.”

“Don’t apologize. We might need to do something besides make out in public though.”

He took her hand, pulling her toward the water. “Then let’s explore Alki.”

Roxy melted further. He clearly wanted her as badly as she wanted him, but he wasn’t rushing. She loved that he was taking his
time to get to know her. He made her feel treasured in a way she never imagined.

 

Chapter 6

 

 

Trevor felt Roxy shiver against him. “Hey, I have an idea,” he offered. He was supposed to be meeting the rest of his clan soon.

Her brow rose as she looked up at him.

His phone rang and he raised it to his ear, hitting talk. Before he could say a single word, Joey started in with, “You still with her?”

“Yes,” Trevor answered simply, pulling Roxy a little closer to rub his hand up and down her arm.
The chilled wind didn’t bother him, but he felt the need to keep her warm.

Her lips twitched up in a smirk
as she turned away and walked toward the water.

Joey chuckled.
“You get her under you, or maybe against a wall, or even better, bent over the railing up at Pike Place yet?”

Trevor growled in response.

“You know Sorcha. She had to know what was going on with you two. We saw the way you two were kissing. You both wanted it until that asswipe showed up. Does he need to disappear?”

It was tempting to say yes, or
better yet, make it happen himself. He bit back his murderous responses and uttered one word. “No.”

“Hmm… okay,” Joey dragged the words out. “So, are you two up for some pool?”

“Pool?” Trevor called to Roxy.

She turned back to him, h
er eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Where?”

“The Garage,” Joey answered.

Trevor relayed, “The Garage.”

She shook her head.
“Make it Shenanigans, and I’m in.”

Joey grunted.
“Let me guess. That assmunch is likely to show up?”

“Yup.”

“Yeah, I’ll tell everyone.” Joey hung up the phone. Trevor was grateful Joey was having one of his rare insightful moments.

“Was that your plan?” she asked cautiously.

He shrugged. “We like to play. We were going to try the Garage since it’s closer. If you can tell me how to get to Shenanigans, the rest of the gang should be there soon.”

Guilt passed through her features.
“You could go without me. I should probably get some work done.”

His smile fell clean off his face.
“Do you want to go home?”

Chewing her lip, she glanced away.
“No. I don’t expect you to change your plans for me though.”

“No one m
inds. I promise.”

Afte
r his reaction last night, his clan knew he had finally found his mate. Joey urged him to claim her, while Shane tried to help him find a way to explain everything to her before that point. He wasn’t sure he could wait to take that step. With every breath of her sweet scent, every touch of her silky skin, and every stolen kiss, waiting became harder.

His beast wanted to claim her, and wouldn’t be satisfied
until he buried himself deep inside Roxy, making her forget every other man in the entire world.

She giggled.
“All right then.” She looked up at the clouds that had rolled back in. There was a light mist. “I’ll race you,” she told him before starting up the beach at a run.

Every instinct called for him to chase her, to pounce and take her right there on the cool, wet sand.

He growled low in his throat and forced himself to walk to the sidewalk where she stopped and turned around with a devilish grin that made his already hard length throb against his button fly.

Control. Must control myself. She deserves to know.

Managing a smile, he forced his primordial urges back as he closed the distance.

 

* * * *

 

The fact that Trevor seemed to know where he was going didn’t bother Roxy. The ruse should have, but a slow smile spread on her lips as she turned toward him.

He glanced over, his jade green eyes locking on hers for a few seconds. His smile was downright wicked.
“What is it?” There was a hint of growl to his voice, and it made her insides tighten with desire.

Smiling back, she
challenged, “You didn’t need a tour guide, did you?” She watched his eyes sweep back to the road.

His Adam
’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Sorry.” There was a hint of blush on his face. “I wanted an excuse to spend the day with you. I am new to town and figured it was the easiest way to convince you to take a chance on me.”

The honest answer
was all she needed. “For the record, you could have simply asked.”


You would have agreed that easily?” It sounded hopeful.

“I couldn’t have resisted.” She nibbled on her lip as she took his hand. His warmth traveled through her, and she
found herself wondering what his deepest darkest secrets were, and when they would come out to bite her.

His
SUV slipped into the only empty parking space in front of Shenanigans. His brow arched with a silent request before he slid out of the car and made his way around.

If there weren
’t a million butterflies swarming in her stomach from that one smoldering look, she might have climbed out just to see what he would do.

He opened the door before she co
uld give that too much thought. Trevor helped her down and took her hand.

She felt eyes on her, and broke out in goosebumps. Something was off, she could feel it. Her whole body stiffened as she looked around.

A frown marred his face as he looked into her eyes.

“Have I done something wrong?” he asked softly
.
His accent sent a thrill through her.

She took a long breath and let it out slowly.
“No. Just my creep radar pinging off the charts, and no, it’s not you.”

He swept her hair behind her ear
before re-taking her hand as they walked to the entrance. One dark brow arched. “Are you thinking too much like you write? Looking for the worst possible twist?” There was a hint of concern in his gorgeous eyes. Then again, he had a point.

Wanting to smack herself, she lifted a shoulder in a shrug.
“Maybe, but I swear, you aren’t the one making my skin crawl.”

“Whatever it is, I’m right here with you. I won’t let anything
, or anyone, harm you.”

She
believed Trevor against all reasoning.

“Hey, Roxy.” Anthony grinned at her. He’d been a bouncer at Shenanigans for years. “Who’s your friend?”

“Trevor. Trevor, this is Anthony.” She beamed.

They shook hands.
“Nice to meet you,” Trevor said.

“You too.”

“Do me a favor, please,” Roxy pleaded. “If Jordan shows up, send someone to let me know.”

He snorted.
“I doubt he ventures this far. It’s been years since he’s shown up here.”

Roxy half-laughed.
“Yeah, well he was stalking me earlier. I wouldn’t put it past him.”

“If he does show, I’ll get word to you. Go enjoy yourself.”

“Thanks, Anthony.” She slipped inside.

Trevor
followed, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Do you know everyone in Seattle?”

She shrugged. “I know a lot of people, but not everyone.
Anthony is an old friend of the family. My mom dated him forever ago.” He was older, in his forties, but still a good guy even if the relationship never became serious.

He stopped before the stai
rs to the upper level and asked, “Do you mind hanging out with my friends?”

“Not at all. I’m sure it will be fun. Besides, you’ll be there.” Then she closed her eyes, feeling all kinds of ridiculous. “I’m really not this girly.” She slapped a hand over her mouth. “
And I really need to shut up.”

Trevor smiled
so wide his dimples deepened. “No you don’t. I’m enjoying every second with you. It’s going to be hard for me to part with you when the time comes.”

She blushed, her
eyes dropping to the floor. “Ditto.”

“Come on. They’re waiting on us.” He tugged her arm and she followed
, feeling giddy.

That is
, until they got to the top of the stairs and he waved to the corner. She felt all six pairs of eyes land on her, taking her in. It was tempting to slip away and disappear. They were so focused on her, their welcoming smiles did nothing to alleviate her sudden case of nerves.

“They’ll love you,” he told her with so much confidence
that she allowed her feet follow him to the three tables the group had claimed.

Her heart was thumping in her chest. Crowds didn
’t bother her. She could handle singing for an audience, even reading poetry to a whole group of people. However, Trevor’s friends seemed to dissect her with blatant curiosity.

Sorcha bounced up to her with a grin. She threw her arm around her shoulders
and announced, “This is Roxy. She’s my new best friend.”

Roxy
’s brow arched as she grinned back at Sorcha. “Awe, thanks.”

Joey barked a laugh.
“Yeah. She likes anyone willing to say what they think. Besides, she thinks you two,” he waved a finger between Trevor and Roxy, “belong together.”

Roxy shrugged.
“It’s a little early to go that far, but there is potential.”

Trevor squeezed her before pointing at the redhead who looked like a mellow version of
Sorcha, and the man who looked like a smaller, more tatted version of Joey. “This is Siobhan and Shane. They’re inseparable.”

“Hi, nice to meet you both.” Roxy shook each of their hands. They were both warm, like unnaturally warm
… exactly like Trevor.

I must be imagining things.

Siobhan smiled. “Nights Embrace was amazing last night. I’m glad Trevor managed to slip up front so we had an excuse to stay and listen.”

“You were,” Shane added. “And I’ve never seen Trevor so captivated by anyone.”

Trevor blushed slightly as he turned to the other two. A woman with dazzling pale blue eyes and straight black hair watched her with a wary smile. Her man seemed younger, something about his face softer.

After clearing his throat, Trevor said,
“This is Fiona and Nick. They’re the quietest of the bunch.”

“A pleasure,” Roxy said
as Fiona shook her hand. Then Nick took Roxy’s hand without a word.

They were all
so damned warm.
Am I freezing or something?
She shook off the strange question.

Fiona softly
remarked, “Give us a little time and we’ll open up.”


Do you play pool?” Sorcha asked.

“Who doesn’t?” Roxy
replied.

“Then get your arse over here and teach me to play this damned game.” She dragged Roxy to
her table.

Roxy laughed.
“Shall I rack?”

Sorcha nodded enthusiastically, her hands sliding into her pockets as she rocked back on her heels with a
crafty smile at Trevor and Joey.

Once the balls were set, Roxy arched a single brow.
“Want to break, or shall I?”

Joey and Trevor moved closer
, mischief dancing in their eyes. Joey spoke up, “How about girls against guys?”

Trevor tried for an innocent smile, but failed miserably.

Roxy had a feeling they were seriously underestimating her. As long as Sorcha was halfway decent, they had it in the bag.

“Bring it,” she told them

Sorcha laughed out loud. “You aren’t even going to ask them what the stakes are?”

“Stakes? What?” Roxy turned wide-eyes to her. “I thought this was a friendly game between friends.”

Joey shook his head. “Nah. We always play for stakes. Makes it much more interesting.”

Sorcha glared daggers at Joey.
“You can’t expect her to go along with that when you didn’t warn her first.”

“Oh, yes we can,” he fired right back.

Her eyes twinkled even as she scolded her man. “You’re an arse. You could’ve let it slide this round.”

Roxy looked to Trevor.
“Should I be worried?”

He shook his head.
“Nah, we figured we’d go easy on you this first game.”

“Okay, then what are the stakes?

Joey rolled his eyes.
“For this first game, the losers buy the winners a drink. Next game, we’ll make it more interesting.”

Roxy snorted, crossing her arms under her chest.
“Cocky, aren’t we?”

Trevor laughed.
“Oh, Joey, I think you may have bitten off more than you can chew.” Then Trevor snagged one of her belt loops and drew her close to whisper against her ear, “Should I throw the game?”

Playing up her slight offense,
she gasped, shoving him back. “You better not. I can handle myself.”

BOOK: Nights Embrace (Others of Seattle)
13.23Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Gigi by Nena Duran
Compliments by Mari K. Cicero
Moonlight on Monterey Bay by Sally Goldenbaum
Enlisted by Love by Jenny Jacobs
The Alchemist's Touch by Garrett Robinson