The feeling of failure, not heartbreak, was what had devastated her. Finding out in such an abrupt and harsh way how inadequate he’d found her was what hurt. It was also one reason she envied her siblings their mates. Mates didn’t have to wonder what their partner thought of them, or worry what they were doing, or who they were doing, when separated. They knew they were loved exactly as they were. But Julie didn’t have that luxury.
She’d walked away from the relationship with her illusions shattered. Living among full humans had been lonelier than among wolves. At least here she had her family. But in reality, she didn’t belong in either world.
It was lonesome being stuck between different and normal. Her whole life she’d been too ordinary to be special like her siblings. The past three years had taught her she was too different to be normal. So where did that leave her?
All by herself.
Dating Brendan, the man she’d always hoped would notice her, would only illuminate her loneliness. Hots aside, it was safer for her sanity to stay in the little sister category. Getting her hopes up for anything more than friendship was a recipe for disaster.
Chapter 3
Walking into Books and Crannies, Brendan hoped the second time would prove more fruitful. After he’d had time to calm down, embarrassment filled him over how badly he’d acted.
It’d been hard hearing Julie talk about him with another woman. She was the woman for him. But he had to remember, Julie was human. She wouldn’t fight for her territory like a wolf mate would. Besides, there was no need. He was already hers. He had to remember that and keep a cool head. Overreacting like he had would only hurt his cause.
Wooing Julie into a mating would take time and patience. If he’d found his mate with a wolf, his partner would feel the same desperate pull he did. But Julie didn’t feel it. At least, not the way he did. Not yet. And she’d already proven a need for independence by going away to college. If he wanted to make her fall in love with him, he needed to be more careful, but he always seemed to lose his head around her.
An image of Julie, her sad eyes and defeated posture from yesterday, flashed in his mind. This might be more difficult than he’d originally thought. It would take plenty of patience and perseverance to win her. But win her heart he would. His wolf howled every time he saw the sadness in his mate’s eyes. The determination to stand between her and her problems almost overpowered all reason. He needed to remain in control.
Searching for Julie, he found her behind a bookshelf, restocking. He stood back, tracing her form with his gaze as she reached for a high shelf. She looked adorable in her bare feet, jeans and gypsy blouse. Her heels lay in a pile at her feet. His hands twitched, longing to run over her curves.
After waiting almost a full minute for her to notice him, Brendan coughed into his hand to get her attention. She jumped at the noise, dropping a book on her bare foot.
“Oh jeez. Are you okay?” Cursing himself for startling her, Brendan rushed over. He placed his hands on her waist as he bent down to look at her foot.
His heart skipped a beat when she wrinkled her nose and smiled. “Relax, Brendan. It’s just a paperback. It couldn’t have weighed more than half a pound.” The laughter in her eyes mesmerized. This was the teasing, happy Julie he remembered.
“Well, at least let me kiss it and make it better.” Brendan rose and brushed his lips against hers. A spark of recognition shot through him. As if his soul recognized the other half of himself. He could only hope she experienced it too. If she felt even half the desperate need he did, there would be no way she could deny him. Her hands flew to his chest, wrapping his t-shirt inside her fists. It was all the urging he needed.
Brendan pulled her body against his as his mouth ravished her. He stroked his hand down her spine, his other arm supporting as he leaned over her.
Her taste exploded inside his head, sending shockwaves through his system. It had been a long wait for this kiss, too long. He ran his tongue around her lips, savoring the moan that escaped her. Taking the bottom lip between his teeth, he felt her hands pull him closer as he gently bit down. Definitely worth the wait.
Kissing Julie was everything he’d envisioned and more. It was so easy to lose himself in her, forgetting everything but the woman in his arms. Julie. Desperate to feel her curves pressing against him, he pulled her closer.
Her moan swept against his mouth, kindling the fire inside him as her tongue tangled with his. Her naked desire triggered the primal beast inside, and the dull sting in his gums indicated his canines had extended. When he opened his eyes, he saw the distorted colors in the world around him, a sure sign they had changed to his wolf’s.
It was almost painful for him to retreat, but this wasn’t the way he wanted things. He would not let his wolf rule this situation. Even more than that, he didn’t want to frighten her. The memory of Julie backing away from him in fear would haunt him for a long time. He never wanted to frighten her again.
Closing his eyes, Brendan placed a quick kiss against the corner of her mouth and raised his head.
Julie remained mute but didn’t pull away. The silence lengthened until Brendan opened his eyes and gazed into her quizzical hazel ones.
“You missed,” she whispered. He stared at her, puzzling through her words. What was she talking about? And then it hit him. He’d told her he was going to kiss her injured foot and make it better. The end of his lips curved up in a smile.
“I did? My bad. I could always try again…” he trailed off, pulling her tighter against him. But Julie had other plans. With a stream of laughter, she pulled out of his embrace.
“Oh no. That’s quite all right.” She turned away from him, but didn’t get far before turning back, her eyes pleading with him. In that moment, he would have ripped off his arm and given it to her had she asked it of him.
“Everything’s okay between us, right? I’m sorry if I upset you earlier. I didn’t realize–” She shook her head. “I just didn’t realize.”
“Laurie talked to you, right?”
“Yes. She told me you two weren’t mates. I guess I jumped to the wrong conclusions.” She laughed again, the melody making his stomach clench. God, he adored her.
“Good. Then there’s nothing stopping you from having dinner with me tonight.” Brendan smiled in satisfaction, sure he had her. But her eyes told a different story. The sadness crept back into her gaze.
“I’m not sure dinner is a good idea, Brendan.”
“It’s just a friendly dinner, Julie. Harmless.” Brendan forced a carefree shrug. The frank disbelief in her gaze told him she was on to his game.
“Harmless? Nothing about that kiss was harmless.”
Brendan struggled to keep his smile innocent. “Just dinner,” he lied. She was right. That kiss wasn’t harmless, and he planned on kissing Julie more. A lot more. There was no way he could stop with just one taste. Kissing Julie was a craving he’d never be able to satisfy.
“I still have another hour before I can leave. We don’t close until nine-thirty tonight.”
“Don’t worry about it. Samantha and I can handle it. You go have fun,” Laurie called from behind the bookcase, startling them both. If he wanted proof that being around Julie addled his brains, here it was. Brendan hadn’t sensed Laurie. His wolf should have heard and smelled her approach.