First & Forever (The Crescent Chronicles Book 4) Read online

  “Which is?” I asked.

  “It won’t keep you out.”

  “Like you want that, babe,” I teased.

  She groaned. “Do you realize how frustrating you are?”

  “Of course I do, but I like you all flustered and hot.”

  “Okay, shut up and get out of here.”

  “No goodnight kiss? Maybe a night cap?” I couldn’t get enough of pushing her. Her reactions were priceless.

  She seemed to fight some inner turmoil. I took that as a good sign.

  “Goodnight, Levi.”

  I shrugged. “Oh well, see you in your dreams.”

  As I took off I heard her murmur, “So much for swearing off men.”

  My heart soared. I was in.

  Chapter Four

  It was her. I knew it in every grain of my body. I also knew that if I told her how I knew, she’d run away screaming. Allie was into me. Everything about her reactions supported that, but being into me and being interested in being my mate, were two different things.

  I needed to keep things light, keep things about having a fun summer relationship until she was so hooked on me she wouldn’t care what I asked of her.

  I had a meeting with my dad at the hotel in the morning, and I found I didn’t mind as much as usual. At least it meant I might get a second to see Allie.

  I made it to the hotel a full twenty minutes early, but before I could so much as step inside I was waylaid by my dad’s senior advisors. They seemed to always have something urgent to discuss with me.

  As we walked through the front door I caught a quick glimpse of Allie. I couldn’t stop to talk to her without opening her up to some serious questioning, so I hurried to the elevator.

  The meetings dragged on all morning. We discussed nothing of major significance, just some foreign affairs that I could care less about. All I wanted to do was see Allie, but I feigned the minimal amount of interest to keep my father happy. I’d care more when it was actually time for me to take the reins. Until I was king, I was perfectly content staying out of things.

  I waited until late afternoon to visit her again. I needed to play things cool. She seemed to enjoy the game of chase, but it was the kind of game that was all about the timing.

  She noticed me seconds after I’d walked through the front doors of the hotel. Her eyes set on me, and I returned her gaze with a smile and wave as I made my way over to the desk.

  “Hello there, beautiful. How was your day?” I leaned one elbow on the desk directly in front of her.

  She didn’t look at me. Instead she seemed to be watching something behind me. “It was work. I had a nice lunch though.”

  “Did you have company for this nice lunch or was it solo?”

  “I had company.” She continued looking behind me, and I needed to see for myself.

  I turned to see the dark haired bartender. I drew in a breath. Did she really have lunch with this guy? Maybe I shouldn’t have given her so much space. I wouldn’t be making that mistake again. “Do you want to hang out tonight?”

  “No, thanks.” She turned her back on me and started toward the back office.

  I moved behind the desk and gently touched her shoulder before she could go too far. “Am I missing something? What’s up?”

  She pursed her lips. “You’re not actually allowed back here you know.”

  “Why don’t you want to hang out? I thought you had fun yesterday.” Was it because of that guy? I could feel my jealousy rise just like bile in my throat.

  “Yeah, it was fun. But that doesn’t mean I want to hang out every night.”

  “Okay, what happened? Is it him?” I pointed at the bartender.

  “No!”

  I relaxed. “Then what is it?”

  “Why does there have to be a reason? Is it that impossible to believe that I’m not interested?”

  Was she really going to play that card again? “You are interested. Don’t bother to deny it. You weren’t faking it on the beach.”

  “Could you lower your voice?” She hissed.

  Then something dawned on me. She’d been happy to see me earlier. “Wait, this isn’t about this morning is it?”

  “Well…”

  I relaxed further. It was just a misunderstanding. “Oh, I can explain that. I told you I work for my dad, those men I was with are his advisors. I figured you didn’t need to meet them.”

  “Oh…”

  “But wow, I’m flattered that it got to you,” I teased. I was relieved she was only upset about my so-called brush off.

  “Don’t push it.” Her voice had an edge to it. I had a feeling it had more to do with embarrassment than genuine annoyance.

  I decided to move the conversation to a more enjoyable place. “So… tonight?”

  She crossed her arms. “No thanks.”

  “Wait, I thought we cleared everything up?”

  “It doesn’t really matter. I still don’t feel like going out.”

  “Then we can stay in… I can bring over some DVDs, or we could order something.”

  “You want to stay in and watch a movie?” she asked incredulously.

  “Sure, why not? Besides, it’s a good excuse to get into your room.” I grinned.

  “As tempting as it sounds, I’m going to pass.”

  I sighed. She was making this so much harder than it needed to be. “Okay, then what are you doing tomorrow morning?”

  “I’m working…”

  “Could you get out of it?”

  “Depends on what for.” She was definitely curious. That was a start.

  “It’s another surprise, but this time wear jeans and tennis shoes.”

  “Where would we go that I would need those?”

  “You’ll see.” I kissed her on the cheek and left before she could change her mind about the next day. I’d miss her that night, but I also knew I couldn’t push things too hard—yet.

  ***

  “We’re going out tonight.” Jared didn’t always grasp the fact that he answered to me and not the other way around. Eventually he’d have to accept it, but for the time being I didn’t mind too much. He’d been my friend since before I had many memories. I had no plans to take over my dad’s job without him staying around.

  “Are we?” I took a seat on the couch across from him. I was already mentally going over the lists of long movies that could help me keep my mind off Allie for at least a few hours.

  “Yes. You’ve been a hermit since meeting that girl. I get it, she’s hot, but if she’s not giving you any why not find it elsewhere?”

  Anger boiled in me. As if I could find some temporary replacement for Allie? “I don’t want anyone else. I’m taking my time with her. She’s worth it.”

  “She’s also just here for a few months.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I’m not interested in screwing around with someone else.”

  “You can still go out.”

  “So I can watch you pick up girls? That does sound entertaining, but I think I’ll pass.”

  “What are you going to do instead? Stalk the poor girl?”

  “No, I’ll probably just take a flight and get out of town for awhile.”

  “Bullshit. You won’t leave town because you won’t leave her.”

  He had me there. “All right, I’m game for a few drinks.” I’d be seeing her the next day anyway.

  “Nice. Ready now?”

  “I need to stop by the hotel again—not to see her. I forgot something in my Dad’s office.”

  “By forgot you mean you purposely left it there so you’d have an acceptable excuse to check on the girl again.”

  “Her name is Allie.”

  “Funny, I haven’t heard you call her that.”

  I didn’t bother to answer. Instead I walked outside and took flight.

  Chapter Five

  The basement was as dark as it always was as I wound my way over toward my Dad’s office. I froze. I heard voices in the distance.

&
nbsp; “It’s not my place. You should talk to Levi if you want answers.” Natalie? The manager wasn’t often down in the basement even if she was a Pteron. “Because he’s the one who brought you in.”

  “Brought me in? You mean like in on the secret?” Allie’s voice made me freeze. What was she doing down here?

  I quickly followed the voices over to the chamber and watched them from the doorway.

  “Yes, he must really think you’re special.” Natalie smiled.

  “I guess, but I don’t know what makes me different from the rest of the girls he dates.”

  “The key word is dates. He has never really dated anyone seriously as far as I know. He’s usually more of a one date kind of man.”

  “You mean he’s a player?” There was a definite edge to her words.

  “That’s one way of putting it.”

  Allie raised an eyebrow. “I know that. I’m not letting myself get too attached.” That was something I’d have to change. For the first time I regretted my history with women. I didn’t want Allie questioning whether I was interested in anyone else.

  “I’m not telling you that to scare you off. I’m letting you know he’s been different with you, that’s all.”

  Allie suddenly looked worried, “Are you going to tell Levi I was down here?”

  Natalie looked right at me. She’d known I was listening in. “I won’t have to.”

  “What do you mean?”

  It was time to let Allie know I was there. I left the shadows of the doorway and joined the women. “Doing some exploring?”

  Allie watched me carefully. “All right, you got me.”

  “Natalie, can we have a minute?” I gave the Pteron a look. I knew she wouldn’t question me.

  “Sure. I’ll see you at work tomorrow morning?” Natalie asked Allie, but her eyes shifted to me.

  “Allie won’t be at work tomorrow. We have plans.”

  Allie’s mouth dropped open. I bit back a smile. I loved surprising her.

  “Of course. Goodnight.” Natalie quickly hurried out of the room.

  Allie stared after her. I had a feeling she was debating whether to follow. She didn’t.

  I closed the gap between us. Allie shivered, and I knew some of it was from fear. I never wanted to scare her, but she needed to be careful exploring The Society chambers like that.

  “What am I going to do with you? You ever heard the saying ‘curiosity killed the cat’?”

  She said nothing. She kept her eyes fixed on me.

  “I think I know what to do.”

  She tensed.

  “Are you afraid?”

  “Maybe,” she whispered as she shivered again.

  I leaned toward her. She closed her eyes before my lips made contact with hers. She opened her eyes and pulled away.

  I laughed. “You were actually scared, weren’t you?”

  “Give me a break, Levi, it’s creepy down here and I really know almost nothing about you. Of course you scared me.”

  “Well, you’re not going to learn anything down here. Let’s go upstairs.” The only thing she’d find down here was trouble. I tried to play it off, but if my dad had been the one to find her, it wouldn’t have gone over so well.

  “At least tell me what this room is for.”

  “It’s for meetings, Al. You happy?”

  “Meetings? Is that really all you are going to give me?”

  “Listen, I’d tell you more but then I’d have to kill you, and I already scared you enough for tonight.”

  “Levi!”

  “Okay, okay. What do you want to know?”

  “Everything. What is this? How do the Pterons fit in? Were you joking when you said there were actually vampires? What else is there—?”

  “Whoa. Slow down there, babe. I can’t answer them all at once.” Her curiosity was a good thing. If she was going to be my mate she’d have to become part of The Society. My mate. Those two words took on new meaning now that I had a face to put with the intense dream that had been haunting me for years.

  “Well, you have to start somewhere.”

  “Does it have to be here? I can think of a few more comfortable places to discuss this.”

  “If this is another attempt to get into my room, forget it.”

  I decided to give her something. “Fine. This is the meeting room for The Society. The Pterons oversee it, but the council includes members from several different shifter groups. Lower lying groups like the vampires don’t have seats.”

  “Vampires are low lying?” Her eyes widened in surprise.

  “They suck blood from people, how much more of a bottom dweller can you imagine?”

  “True. But I don’t know… they seem more glamorous in books and movies.”

  “Yes, because books and movies always get things right.” I shook my head. Popular culture always got paranormal creatures wrong. They usually left us out because they didn’t know about us. I liked it that way.

  “Fine. So why are the Pterons in charge?”

  “We’re the most powerful. Our hybrid form helps, as does our strength.” If she only knew what role I was going to play in The Society.

  “So is your strength one of those abilities you promised to tell me about later?”

  “Yes. Not that it should surprise you.” I folded my arms across my chest. Her eyes zeroed in on my biceps.

  “No, I guess it isn’t surprising.” She smiled, and I knew she was thinking about what I looked like without a shirt on.

  “If that about answers your questions, what do you say we get out of here?”

  “This isn’t over, but I’ll take what I can get for tonight.”

  I walked her to the elevator, making sure she really left. I grabbed the papers I needed from Dad’s office—the ones that probably could have sat there for another two days. I enjoyed sharing more of The Society with Allie, especially since she seemed to like it more than I did.

  ***

  “It’s so cool that you’ve spent time in France.”

  I tried to tune out the girl hanging all over me, but she was particularly difficult to shrug off.

  “Sure. It’s cool.”

  “I’ve always wanted to go there. I mean I’ve been to Europe, but only the England part.”

  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. The England part? I didn’t want to mess with Jared’s attempt to get this girl’s friend in bed, but I also wasn’t going to go out of my way to help. “Yeah.”

  “And you’re a senior in college?”

  I didn’t even bother to answer that one. The girl was grasping at straws.

  “Levi?” The girl put a hand on my shoulder, and I shrugged it off. Having any other girl’s hands on me felt wrong. “Are you okay? You seem distracted.”

  “I am distracted.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” She put a hand on my leg.

  I shrugged off her hand, again. “Not at all.”

  “Oh.” She sounded disappointed.

  “Listen, you seem like a nice enough girl. I’m going to lay it out there for you. I’m not interested.”

  Jared glared.

  I shot him a look of his own. “What? Don’t act surprised.”

  “Who is she?” Finally the blonde made a statement I cared about answering.

  “She’s perfect.”

  “She’s lucky.” The girl stood up. “And I’m done wasting my time.”

  “Jamie!” Her friend slipped out of Jared’s arm and followed her out.

  “Thanks for that, man. Real helpful.” Jared downed his beer.

  “I told you I wasn’t interested in messing around with anyone else.”

  “That doesn’t mean you can’t play along for my sake.”

  “Yes it does.” I pushed away my half full beer. I didn’t want it.

  “It’s her isn’t it? The girl from your dream.”

  I let out a deep breath. “It’s her.”

  “Are you sure? Absolutely positive?”

>   “Yes. I felt it last night. She’s the one.”

  “I knew it.” He leaned back in his chair. “I knew it.”

  “You knew she was my mate? For how long?”

  “From the beginning—from the way you’ve obsessed over her every movement.” He no longer seemed angry, more resolved.

  “And you’re just telling me this now?”

  “I thought I’d let you figure this out yourself.” He stood up.

  “I’m sure. Leaving already?”

  “You want to run by the hotel and check on her, don’t you?”

  “What does it mean that I want to?”

  “That you’re a lost cause.”

  “A lost cause? Is that a bad thing?

  “A horrible thing for me—but not so bad for you.” He stalked out of the bar.

  Chapter Six

  I waited for her by the front entrance of the hotel. I’d barely slept the night before—luckily I only needed a few hours of sleep at most per night. I hoped she appreciated my less than typical plans for the day.

  “Good morning, beautiful.” I smiled when she approached me. I’d missed her. I was losing it completely.

  “Good morning. Sleep well?”

  Was she teasing me? Did she realize the torture I went through the night before holding myself back from visiting her. “I slept well, and you?”

  “I slept wonderfully.”

  “Any dreams?” I had to ask.

  “Yes. I actually had some nice ones.”

  “About anyone I know?”

  “Maybe.” She smiled coyly.

  “Whoever was in them was a lucky guy.”

  “Yeah, well. I’ll have to tell him you said that.”

  I let my arm brush against hers. “You do that.”

  I led her outside, and she headed straight for my car. She waited by the passenger door of my black BMW.

  “How’d you know it was mine?”

  “You said you were parked down here, and it seemed more you than an old Civic or a pickup.” She watched me. She wanted to know what I thought about her analysis of me.

  “I like how you don’t hold back, Al. You just say it like it is.”

  “So you are really sticking to the Al thing, huh?”

  “It fits.”

  “Whatever.” She tried to shrug it off, but I saw the smile she attempted to hide.