A Werewolf to Call Her Own (Mystic Isle, Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

focus on something other than her curves. “That sounds like a lot of hard work for something that will be destroyed by wind and water.”
    Her smile dimmed immediately and he felt like an ass.
    “You’re right.”
    “But then art is a worthy cause, no matter how long it lasts.” The words sounded good. He didn’t particularly buy into art. Didn’t really have time for it and had never made time for it. But that didn’t mean he didn’t see the value in creativity.
    A small smile creased her cheeks. “Like music.”
    “Music?” He didn’t follow.
    “It’s like when I play my violin. I get lost in the music for a few minutes. Or even a few hours. But when I’m done playing, it’s over.”
    The passion in her voice warmed him from the inside out. What else was she as passionate about? No. Don’t go there. Contemplating such things would only torture him later. And possibly hurt her in the long run.
    “I should walk you to your door,” he said, standing. He held his hand out to her, and she slipped her palm against his, so trusting.
     
    Ceara enjoyed the way he moved her, strong hand at her back, directing her so easily. Warming her skin.
    She didn’t want the night to be over. In fact, her heart ached at the thought of going back to her room, lukewarm compared to him, her sheets cold. Avery in the next bed. But she nodded. He’d given her an amazing night. A truly amazing night filled with memories.
    “I understand.”
    It took everything in her to say those two little words. In reality, she did not understand. Wasn’t a man supposed to be so overcome with passion that he couldn’t control himself? More importantly… was that what she wanted?
    Yes . Her nerve endings screamed a little louder, yes, yes, yes!
    He stopped, the hand at her back, angling her toward him. “Do you?”
    When she didn’t meet his gaze, he tipped her chin up with a single press of a finger.
    No! No I don’t understand. Anything. Why your eyes are so beautiful that I get lost in them. Why it seems like I’ve heard your voice in my dreams, known you for years rather than minutes. I don’t understand the need running through me, the desire that’s so overwhelming that I’ve given up the urge to fight it. I don’t understand why my body is on edge, waiting for your touch. Why every second in your presence makes me anticipate your kiss.
    He regarded her so slowly, so thoroughly that she started to worry that he’d been reading her thoughts. But his gaze skipped to her lips again. “Do you understand just how badly I want to throw you over my shoulder and carry you off somewhere? Do you understand why I shouldn’t do it? You are a grain of sand in the hourglass of your life and you deserve a man who can offer you—”
    He cut off abruptly, shaking his head, then focused on the ocean.
    “What are you offering?”
    “That’s just it, beautiful. I can’t offer you anything more than a hard fuck.”
    She licked her lips, eyes smarting. Too good to be true. She should have known. She’d gotten swept away in the moment, in the idea that she could have a happy ending like Coco and Grayson. That she could have a werewolf to call her own.
    “A one-night stand,” she said, amazed that her voice sounded as steady as it did. The concept was not foreign to her. Avery had engaged in several one-night stands, claiming that sometimes she just had an itch that needed scratching. Whatever that meant.
    “You deserve better.”
    That made her laugh. They’d known each other for an hour and a handful of minutes. “How do you know?”
    He stared at her for a long time. Thoroughly. She got the impression that nothing got by him. What did he do? What had he seen in his life? It was obvious that he was much older, much more worldly. Somehow that didn’t seem like such a gaping chasm between them.
    “I just do.”
    “As it happens, I’m leaving here in three days.”
    She didn’t know what she’d expected. Maybe for him to smile and