SIX MONTHS (A Seven Series Novel)

Meanwhile, I sat in the beanbag chair after having invited myself in to escape from the men ogling me in the hall. Okay, maybe I was hiding.

 

When Trevor had come knocking, Jericho had slipped out of the room and told him someone had given me a ride home. I felt rueful when I heard him running down the stairs. Poor Trevor, always trying to save the day, even if it meant raining on my picnic. For some reason, I wasn’t as upset about it as I should have been.

 

“Where are my shoes?” I whined, glancing at my bare feet and wiggling my toes. Then my head fell back and I stared at the ceiling, searching for shapes and faces. It was the first time I’d ever sat in a beanbag chair and I had to admit I liked it. Might consider getting one. Pink, or maybe purple.

 

Where would it fit in the trailer? Hmm, conundrum.

 

I lifted my head when I heard the sound of buckles. Jericho was pressed up against the blonde’s back and a low growl rose from his throat as he kissed the nape of her neck. I couldn’t help but stare. It was an erotic visual, and nothing like my ex who did everything under the covers with all the lights off. Never any spontaneity, although I’m sure he had plenty with my friends.

 

Jericho lifted her skirt, yanked down her black panties, and the next thing I knew, his hips were moving in a steady rhythm. She moaned, reaching around to hold on to his neck with her hand.

 

Movement caught my eye and I turned around, planting my knees into the beanbag chair as I stared at the red lava lamp. Melting, misshapen blobs rose to the top and it seemed never ending.

 

“Cool lamp.”

 

Two hands were on my hips, rubbing in slow circles. “Little girl, you just don’t have a clue what this does to me.”

 

I kind of did. It had quite an effect on Denver.

 

“Tell me if you want to play,” he asked, doing nothing more than softly touching my hips with his fingertips. “I’m going to lie down on the bed and you can stay right here if you want, or join in.”

 

The door swung open, hit the wall, and his hands instantly came away from my hips. I glanced over my shoulder and my eyes played tricks on me as two men moved like the little blobs in the lamp.

 

“Reno?”

 

He punched Jericho with a hard fist and I gasped when something unbelievable happened. Jericho transformed into a beautiful brown wolf with sea-green eyes.

 

Everything was magical.

 

Floaty.

 

Bubbly.

 

I crawled on the floor toward him. “Pretty puppy!”

 

“April?” Reno appeared in front of me and pried my eyelids up. “Fffuck,” he hissed. “I’m going to kill you, Jericho.”

 

Then I leaned in and kissed Reno on the mouth.

 

Soft. Wet. Familiar. Why did Reno seem so familiar to me? His delicious cologne filled my senses and he tasted like sin.

 

Reno pulled back, hooked his arm around my waist, and hauled me off the ground. He gave me a hard shake and speared me with his eyes. “You’re stoned.”

 

Something licked my hand and I petted the wolf. Reno smacked him on the nose and the wolf leapt on the bed, letting the blonde stroke his cream-colored ears.

 

“Why did Jericho change? Is he a magician?”

 

Reno bit his lower lip and I touched his smooth face. “We’re Shifters, April. That’s what we are. You’re coming with me; it’s too dangerous for you to be alone right now. Austin’s clearing out the party. Jericho, your ass is dead meat,” he reiterated, staring at the wolf. “You can hear me in there and I know you were behind this. Think it’s funny? Well, one of the Packmasters got into your cupcakes and his mate is not happy. This is damage control I don’t even want to deal with,” he muttered.

 

I wriggled free from his grasp and flew out the open door, dashing down the hall in my bare feet.

 

“April!”

 

“Catch me if you can!”

 

I hurried down the stairs with a giggle on my lips and… Oh, another pretty wolf!

 

“Hi, sweetie,” I sang, stroking his soft grey fur. When I heard Reno drawing close, I flew out the door with a flurry of laughter, cutting straight across the lawn until I tripped in the grass.

 

When I rolled over and glanced up, I saw Dolly Parton looking down her nose at me. “Hi, Dolly. Didn’t get lucky with Reno Machino?”

 

She looked mad enough to spit nails. I stared at her cheap shoes and noticed she had a corn on her toe.

 

“He didn’t give me the time of day. Every man gives me the time of day,” Dolly huffed. “That can only mean one thing. Is he gay?”

 

I sat up with a deadpan expression. “Flaming. You didn’t know?”

 

She looked up at the sky and flapped her arms once, slapping them against her hips. “Figures. It just figures! You can never tell with Shifters.”

 

Dolly stomped off and engines revved in the distance along the private road. I fell back against the high grass on the edge of the property. I’d never seen such a serene sky as what was blanketed above me. It made my life seem miniscule in comparison to the infinite depths of the universe.

 

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