Stone Cold Fox Read online

  Jo felt her cheeks heat at the warm look in his eyes but she tried to push the attraction away.

  “You shouldn’t give up your dreams,” she told him. “It’s important to do what you love.”

  “Well, I haven’t completely. Look . . .” Reese got up and went into the other room. He returned with a framed diploma and showed it to her.

  “A bachelor’s degree in ancient history!” She looked up at him, surprised.

  “It’s only from an online university.” Reese shrugged self-deprecatingly. “But it’s a good one—I did plenty of research before I enrolled. And I’m thinking of taking classes for a master’s degree next.”

  “You should! Reese, this is really impressive. I knew I saw a band of intellect in your aura. I couldn’t figure it out at first.”

  “Yeah, a mechanic who likes to read.” He grinned. “Go figure, right? Well . . .” He took the diploma back from her and stretched. “Think I’ve had enough reading for one night. It’s time to let my Fox out to roam around some.”

  This was something he did every evening, about an hour before bedtime. He’d explained to Jo that his other half enjoyed spending time with her too and it was only fair to give the Fox a chance to see her at least once a day.

  Jo felt a wide smile spread over her face at his words. She loved his Fox to pieces—the little animal was so frisky and cuddly. Just hearing his sharp little yip and seeing him tear across the living room to jump into her arms made her bubble over with happiness. Plus, sitting on the couch and stroking his lithe, furry body just before bedtime ensured that her sleep wouldn’t be interrupted by the pounding in her temples coming back before she woke.

  “Good,” she exclaimed. “I can’t wait to see the little guy.”

  “Sometimes I think you like my animal half more than my human half,” Reese said dryly, but Jo could tell he was only partially joking.

  “Of course I don’t, Reese,” she protested, getting up to go to him. “You know I love, um, spending time with you . . . talking to you.”

  She could feel her cheeks getting hot as she spoke—her body yearned for his and she wished they could do a lot more than talk. But she tried to push the need she felt away and went on.

  “Your fox is just so cute and cuddly,” she told Reese, “Nothing like those huge, ferocious dire wolves that chased me after I left Avalon.” She shivered at the memory. “Goddess, I’m so glad you don’t turn into anything like that.”

  “Uh, yeah. That would be a real shame,” Reese muttered. He looked like he wanted to say something, then he just shook his head. “Guess I’d better let him out then.”

  He turned away but Jo couldn’t ignore the hurt look she’d seen in his brown eyes.

  “Reese,” she said, stepping forward and putting a hand tentatively on his arm. He was wearing a t-shirt and she saw his bicep tense and knot at her light touch. She hadn’t reached out to him—hadn’t touched him voluntarily—until now. Other than the kiss on the cheek she’d given him that first day at Fiona’s, she hadn’t touched him at all—it was always him touching her.

  “Yes, darlin’?” he asked, turning back to her, his voice dropping into a lower register—almost a soft growl. “What is it?”

  “I . . . I just wanted you to know . . . wanted to say . . .” Jo tried to think of how to put it.

  He raised an eyebrow at her, waiting, which made her even more nervous.

  “I want you to know I like being with you—like spending time with you,” she heard her voice saying. “I . . . I like it too much. So much it makes me . . . uncomfortable sometimes when I’m near you in your human form. That’s all.”

  She pressed her thighs tightly together, trying to ignore the throbbing which got worse any time she was near him. His hands on her body . . . his mouth on her breasts . . . his fingers between her legs . . . No!

  Goddess, she had to stop thinking of their erotic encounter after she’d cast the spell! The lust was messing with her head, making her think of doing things she hadn’t desired in years. Why couldn’t she just turn her libido off, the way it had been the entire time she’d lived in Avalon?

  She hadn’t desired a man’s touch in over twenty years, but now, sometimes when she was close to Reese, she thought she would go crazy if she couldn’t have those big hands roving over her body . . . making her naked . . . making her his . . .

  “Being near you makes me uncomfortable too, you know, darlin’,” he said matter-of-factly. “You smell so good it drives me crazy. Half the time I’m with you, your Juvie scent makes me so hard I ache.”

  “I . . . I’m sorry.” Jo took a step back from him but he followed her and reached out to stroke her cheek lightly with the back of his knuckles.

  “Don’t be,” he murmured. “It’s worth it to be near you. Even if I want you so badly I can hardly see straight. It’s a kind of torture but . . . a sweet torture, if that makes any sense.”

  “Yes,” Jo whispered. “It . . . it feels that way to me too.”

  “Then why are we torturing ourselves, darlin’?” he asked softly. He cupped her face in his big, warm hands and leaned down to look into her eyes. “Why can’t we stop playing this game?” he murmured.

  Jo’s heart pounded and she wanted to pull away from his soft touch, but somehow she couldn’t. He was so close . . . close enough to kiss and his breath smelled sweet and a little spicy, like the apple pie she’d baked for dessert. She knew his mouth would taste of cinnamon and cloves and hot, aroused man and Goddess, she wanted so badly to taste that—to taste him.

  “See, this is why I like your Fox form,” she said breathlessly, not answering his question. “Because there’s none of this . . . this tension when you’re the Fox. I can touch you as much as I want without wanting to do more . . . to go too far.”

  “How far is too far?” Reese murmured. He hadn’t released his light hold on her and somehow Jo couldn’t make herself pull away. His touch seemed to send electrical tingles though her entire body.

  “I . . . I don’t kn—” she began.

  Before she could finish, Reese took her mouth in a sweet, urgent kiss. Soft, yet demanding, his mouth covered hers.

  Goddess! Jo felt like she was melting. Throwing her arms around his neck, she returned the kiss, opening her lips to his, welcoming him in, finally giving in to the lust that had been burning inside her for what felt like forever.

  Reese gave a low groan and crushed her to him. His big body, hard and hot, was pressed against hers from chest to groin and Jo felt the solid ridge of his shaft pressing insistently against her thigh.

  Come on, baby, whispered a voice from her past. I just want a little kiss—c‘mere and give me a kiss . . .

  With a gasp, she broke the kiss and pushed away from Reese. What was she doing? What was wrong with her? She had to get away—to get out of here before she did something she’d regret—before he took what she wasn’t willing to give.

  “Jo?” Reese looked at her uncertainly, clearly wondering why she’d pulled away from their passionate embrace so abruptly.

  “I . . . I’m sorry.” Jo shook her head, her long red hair whipping around her face. “I can’t—I just can’t. I have to go now.”

  Turning, she fled up the stairs to the room Reese had given her. She locked herself in, threw herself on the bed, and shook and cried, trying to push away the past. Trying not to think of how badly she wanted Reese . . . and how badly she didn’t want to want him.

  It was awful and made all the worse because no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to stop the feelings welling up inside her for the big Shifter.

  At last, though, she felt she’d cried herself out. Sitting up, she wiped her eyes with the clean but faded patchwork quilt that covered her bed and took a deep breath. There had to be something she could do—some way out of this mess.

  There is, whispered a little voice. You know there is—you just have to be brave enough to do it.

  Biting her lip, Jo considered her option