Beautiful Creatures Series

Darrell groaned as he placed both hands to his head. Dear merciful Lord in Heaven, his head felt like an entire construction crew was beating on his brain. He rolled over and caught a whiff of perfume. He ran his hand over the pillow next to him. It smelled like Katelyn. Lifting his head off his pillow, Darrell realized the smell was not just coming from his pillow. There was another source in the house. He climbed out of bed and made his way downstairs.

He was surprised to find Katelyn on the couch asleep. He tried to recall how she had gotten here. He vagally recalled the coffee shop. That was right. He ran into her on a date. He felt his ire rise once more. He was not sure how long they had been home, but he would guess the night given the morning sun coming through the window.

Darrell sat down on the coffee table and nudged Katelyn to wake her. She lifted her head and yawned. “What time is it?”

“I don’t know. The morning is my best guess.”

“I should get home. Can you give me a ride back into Aspen?”

“Let me guess you want me to drop you at your boyfriend’s house.”

“Please don’t start throwing a tantrum again. Carl is not my boyfriend.”

“Does he know that?”

“Carl is my cousin. We were attending his sister’s wedding. We just stopped to get coffee between the ceremony and the reception when we ran into you.”

Darrell felt foolish. “Oh.”

“I would have told you so, but then you knocked Aurora to the floor and triggered her labour.”

“Right,” he barely remembered that. “So, you don’t have a boyfriend?”

Katelyn sat up. “I haven’t been much in the dating mood. I have been dealing with the repercussions of my breakup with Nigel and your tantrum. Forgive me if I don’t feel like creating a third headache.

She sat there looking at him as he stared at her. “I’m sorry I was such a shit yesterday. It has just been really hard to get over you.”

Katelyn sighed. “You haven’t been any easier to get over.”

“I don’t want to get over you. I miss you, Katelyn.”

“I miss you too.”

“Then why did you leave. If you love me, why not stay?”

“It is because I love you that I left. I don’t want to be the reason you lose the pack.”

“I don’t want the pack to be the reason I lose you.”

“I’m sorry, Darrell, I just can’t do this. Please drive me back to Aspen, or I’ll just walk.”

“Katelyn, please. Reconsider, I have never met a woman I wanted to spend a second date with, let alone the rest of my life. That has to tell you what you mean to me. I imprinted with a human, for fuck sakes. Do you have any idea what kind of shit I took for doing that?”

“I don’t want you to give up the chance of having a family.”

“I would rather have you.”

“I don’t want to give up the chance to have a family.”

Oh, he understood. He was not enough. Katelyn wanted children, and he could not give them to her. Darrell felt his heartbreak. “I’ll take you home,” he said, trying to mask his sorrow. “There is no need to walk. Just let me clean myself up first. A quick shower and a clean set of clothes.”

said, laying

back out oat Katelyn lying on his couch. With the door open, there was a direct line of sight from the couch to his shower. A grin curved his lips. He turned on the shower to warm the water, and then he undressed, leaving the door open. As he removed the last of his clothes, he kept his back to the door, but through the

***

The man had no modesty… and an amazing body. She watched as he stepped into the shower and shut the shower door. The clear

bit her bottom lip, trying to ignore the tingling growing between her legs. Would it be wicked of her to hop in the shower with a man she refused to marry? She did not want him to get

fall to the floor. Her clothes were lying in a trail

his mouth claiming hers in a heated, demanding kiss. She twined her arms around his shoulders. His hands slid down her back and gripped her bottom, lifting her off her feet and pressing her back against the cool tile

over her neck kissing and nipping at the sensitive flesh. Her hands roamed the span of his muscled back. He felt magnificent beneath her fingers, so strong, so powerful. The idea of spending her life in this man’s arms was so alluring. It was so tempting, but she knew if Darrell lost the pack, he would regret it and come to resent her. She could not spend her life knowing she had cost

eyes grew bright. It was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. As the moment passed and Darrell put her on her feet once more,

face to face, and Darrell stared into her eyes and smiled. “This doesn’t

“I know.”

***

driveway, the front door opened, and her parents came out. It looked as though they were going somewhere, and Darrell had blocked them in. Katelyn got out of

is Darrell, is it not?”

it is,” he tipped his

you again. I was so worried when Carl said Katelyn took off with some drunk jealous man. I feared she

a ride, and your daughter was

spent the night?” Her father

Katelyn said, deciding not to add to things

boyfriend,” her father said, “You are a

and awkwardly. “He’s not my boyfriend,” Katelyn

what is he?” Her mother asked.

and he looked at her. “Good question. What am

are… he is…. we are… we are

“Friends?” Darrell repeated.

“Yes… friends.”

parents. “We are apparently friends,” both her parents went quiet, and there was an awkward tension between them. “So,

gifts this morning. Katelyn, why don’t you go change into something a little more casual, and you can ride with

Karen will mind one extra mouth at brunch. It is just going to be a buffet anyway,” her

I’m sure Darrell is busy

have nothing to do today,” he said with

to the brunch. We will meet you

“Certainly.”

and removed her dress. She opened her closet door and took down a

eyes made her knees feel weak, and her breath catch in her chest. Darrell leaned into Katelyn, his lips hovering over her neck without

I would be alright

found hers. One arm around her waist Darrell eased her back on the bed, bracing himself above her as he ate

***

out and ran for the door to the community hall where her cousin was hosting the brunch. Darrell was only a step behind her. As they came through the doors, their entrance did not go unnoticed. Their entrance had drawn the attention of the whole hall. Darrell stood beside Katelyn, who smiled with awkward embarrassment. Darrell offered the room that smile he was so good at. Then he respectfully tipped his hat. “Hello,” he then looked at the bride, who was not wearing her wedding dress today but had still dressed in white. He walked over his hat in one hand, and he offered his hand first to Karan and then to her new husband.

is this man?” Karen

glared at her mother.

grinned, returning his hat to his head. “That’s me, the NOT boyfriend,” Katelyn covered

to Nigel?” Karen

know what this is not about me. Today is about you,” Katelyn told her

thought you would bring him. I liked him,” Darrell took a step closer, and Katelyn noticed him casually sniff the air. Then he chuckled. “I love your perfume,” he joked.

him, coming

looked at the new husband. “What is