Page 31 of The Dire Legacy

A breeze stokes the flames sending sparks drifting through the night sky to merge with the stars. This isn’t so bad, relaxing on a beach with someone to talk to.

If only it wasn’t broken by the rhythmic grunting of Alpha and his mate somewhere rutting in the dark.

When his howl merges with hers, I can hear Hope giggle around the last bite of her food. “I guess we are really in the wild now.”

“You kinda get used to it.” With the dogs, it’s all about marking their territory. Which includes each other.

“It isn’t, um, distracting?” The blanket drops around her slender neck.

I can see the flush of pink that runs up to color her cheeks.

Tossing my empty pouch into the blaze, I fixate on the purple hue that dances from the melting plastic before giving a small shrug. “It’s good to know there’s some form of happiness in this world.”

“Aw. Girl break your heart?” She crumples her spaghetti container and it lands next to the ashes of mine.

My stomach clenches and a hard knot forms in my throat.

Angie’s face flashes behind my eyes. Her mouth frozen in a soundless scream.

I’ve jacked off to thoughts of her since I was old enough to know what my dick was for. I don’t know if I’ll ever get hard again with that image rooted in my head.

“Something like that.” Poking the embers lets me sear the white hot coals into my vision for a moment.

I wish I could burn the memories away.

“Wow, Snoopy. She did you raw.” Hope shifts the blanket and stretches out on her side, tucking her hands under her head as she yawns.

The iridescent emeralds of her eyes disappear when they fall closed. It doesn’t take long for her breathing to deepen and her heartbeat to slow.

Flickering light teases over her curves as she sleeps. It’s hard not to look at her, the tease of her pink tongue moving along her bottom lip keeps me riveted. Small twitches in her cheeks flicker smiles and frowns over her face as she falls further into sleep.

She’s beautiful in the smoldering glow. I wonder how long it will be before she wears terror when she looks at me.

Chapter 12

Hope

I fucked up.

Why is that the first thought when I wake up?

Oh, yea. Someone who got in a plane wreck would be sore.

Dumbass.

Act tender. Not like someone with super healing. That’s conspicuous. The last thing I want is to draw attention to that.

If he knows, he might turn me in. I’m sure even living with the dogs means he could use some niceties.

Like what?

The slow warmth of the sun feels glorious as I unfold from my blanket burrito.

Something soft and furry is wedged against me. And, it’s breathing.

“A puppy!” I can’t keep the excited squeal out of my voice as my fingers burrow into thick brown fur.

Startled amber eyes fly open as it pulls its small head back to look at me before pushing closer and licking my cheek.

---