Roused (Moon Claimed) Read Online Free PDF Page A

fireplace a glass of red wine in her hand, trying to figure what to do about the Hawkins brothers. The last few days she had tried her best to be cool towards Nathan, to watch his every step, especially around her sister. But she couldn’t find a flaw – or whatever it was she was searching for. It was obvious that he was as crazy about Tess as she was about him. Still. Her vote wasn’t out yet, though she honestly doubted it would change her sister’s mind in any way. Maybe sadden her, but it surely wouldn’t be enough to make her change her mind about Nathan. Her sister was very much in love.
    Not for the first time and since she was alone, Erin wondered what it felt like. Love. What was love? She had no idea. She had never been in love, had never wanted to be so close to someone, or to let someone come this close to her. She knew it existed and knew that there were good men, that there were couples that cherished and respected and loved each other – sometimes it even lasted a lifetime. And yet, she could only shake her head at the thought of putting not only a piece of you but all of yourself into someone else’s hands. Why would anyone do that? Why would anyone give that kind of power to someone else? Why would anyone want to be so vulnerable?
    But apparently it wasn’t them who were fucked up – she was.
    Come here, my little girl.
    The voice of her past sent chilly shivers down her spine. The ghost hands on her skin nauseated her. Her jaw clenched. Yeah, she was the fucked up one, alright. No news there. She’d had enough boys, and later men, tell her that.
    A knock on her door pulled her away from the dark path she was about to walk down and she was grateful for it. Setting her wine glass on the table she got up and walked over to open it.
    Seth was on her porch and behind him, at the bottom of the stairs, two horses waited. He looked at her and his brow furrowed, his piercing silver eyes probably seeing far too much. “Wanna get some fresh air?”
    Hell, yeah. Anything to get out of the cabin that would probably only fill up with even more ghosts. “Give me a minute.” She quickly ran into her bedroom and changed into her favorite pair of black, worn out jeans, pulled on her boots and grabbed her jacket before heading back out and closing the door behind her. She slowly walked down the steps and took in the horses. Seth’s was another gray one, but a little lighter in coloring and bigger than Ghost. At her inquiring gaze he said, “This is Hale, Ghost’s father.” Beside Hale was a rusty brown beauty. “And this is Caramella. She’s a rather lazy but absolutely sweet girl so you shouldn’t have any trouble with her.”
    Erin hadn’t been near – and much less on – a horse since she’d been a child. Swallowing the lump of nerves that had formed in her throat she walked over to Caramella and stroked her velvety big head and neck, and soon she wasn’t able to stop the smile tugging at her lips. Seth helped her into the saddle and Erin needed a moment to get used to the feeling. Seth was patient and gentle with her and the horse. His manner, quiet and yet in control, was reassuring and soon Erin felt herself relax into the moment.
    They k ept it at a slow pace that allowed for Erin to not only enjoy the beautiful creature beneath her but also the forest around her. For a while she let herself be swept away. She forgot everything – her past and the world around her – and she was grateful for the companiable silence that Seth somehow knew she needed.
    Later after she mentioned the beauty surrounding them they started to talk. It felt surprisingly good and easy.
    “Tess said you’re a writer,” Seth soon said.
    “I am.”
    “What genre?”
    She looked at him directly. “Thriller and erotica.”
    A spark in those eyes, like lightning in silvery mist. “Interesting. Gotten any good ideas lately?”
    A sly smile tugged at her lips. “As a matter of fact, I have. Quite a few