Page 8 of A Hunter Turned
Jamie’s elbow connecting with his belly only increased the volume of Kane’s laughter.
Chapter Six
He didn’t know why he’d invited the vampire on a walk. The thought had occurred to him as he spoke of the pizza and recalled the longing in her voice when she’d asked Morgan Rhys if the sun had gone down so that she might go outside. He could sympathize, would go stir-crazy himself if forced into confinement and before he’d been fully aware of what he was doing, the invitation was out of his mouth.
Archer should have expected the look of horror on her face. After all, they weren’t friends. He’d gone out of his way time and again to provoke her. He’d more than earned her enmity, yet that look had still stung. And even though she’d attempted to soothe his wounded ego with an overly exuberant acceptance of his invitation, he fully expected that she would have, by now, come up with some excuse not to join him for a walk. So, it came as quite a surprise to find her dressed in appropriate clothes to leave the cabin when he arrived.
Since she’d been injured and others had needed to tend to her, Jamie’s wardrobe, that he had seen up to now, had consisted primarily of loose pajamas or sweatpants paired with oversized T-shirts, slippers the footwear of choice. She’d shed those in favor of a fitted V-neck top of olive green, faded skinny jeans with threadbare patches and a hole in one knee that hugged her form deliciously, and rugged boots on her feet, perfect for tramping through the somewhat rough terrain of the bayou.
Her long blonde hair had been pulled back from her face into a high ponytail only serving to better display the elegant bone structure of her cheeks and jawline. If Archer had thought her attractive before…
Giving himself a mental shake to break the spell that had him staring, his voice was gruffer than he intended when he asked, “Ready?”
Jamie’s eyes narrowed behind the glasses, her hands going to her hips before she recalled the splints on her still-healing fingers and crossed her arms over her chest instead. “You don’t have to do this, you know. I’m perfectly capable of walking on my own.”
“But who would answer your questions?”
“I’ll make a list.”
“And then have to wait for the answers,” he pointed out. Everything he’d heard and observed about Jamie Wilson was that she was a curious woman with a thirst for knowledge and hated to be kept in the dark. “I know everything that goes on in this bayou as well as its history.”
His words had struck a chord with her, he could see it in her face – such an attractive, expressive face. A face he certainly wouldn’t mind seeing much more of. The thought had him growling again which elicited a disgruntled sigh from the vampire.
“Look. It’s obvious you’ve changed your mind and don’t really want to do this. So, why don’t you go do whatever it is you do,” she said with a wave of her bandaged hand, “and I’ll amuse myself. Everyone’s happy.”
“I want to do this,” he snapped.
“Ha!”
He should have taken the out. He was a rational, sensible wolf. He was alpha, a born leader, and didn’t need the distraction of a woman that was already far too often in his thoughts, but some irrational part of him wanted to do this more than he could articulate. The need was almost visceral.
Swallowing a growl that would only prove to highlight her point, he consciously softened his tone. “Please. Will you come for a walk with me?”
Her eyes narrowed as she considered his request before she nodded. “Only because I can’t stand to be trapped in here a moment more,” she was quick to point out.
Archer couldn’t help but grin, “So even I will do?”
The look she shot him was startled before her expression morphed into one of amusement. “Exactly.”
The night air held a bit of a chill, and Archer wondered if she might want a jacket as they left the warm interior of the house. Her accent marked her a northerner, so she was most likely used to much colder temperatures this time of year, still, he couldn’t help but ask, “Will you be warm enough?”
“I’m good.”
Taking her word for it, they had walked only a few feet before Jamie stopped. Thinking she had changed her mind about grabbing a jacket, he glanced over at her in inquiry only to see her close her eyes and inhale deeply. Her face one of such pleasure that he knew the image would be permanently burned into his brain.
“I needed this,” she softly uttered, her eyes opening to take in the scenery. The terrain fairly well-lit thanks to fires burning in metal barrels spread out in intervals throughout his territory.
Archer took a moment to look around as well, attempting to imagine how she saw his home. He was used to it, had lived here all his life, knew every creeping vine, every knothole in every tree, was familiar with the lacy curtains created by the Spanish moss. Trying to see it as an outsider was nearly impossible, but he hoped she appreciated the primal beauty that surrounded her.
“If I go to the water’s edge,” she began, a hint of trepidation in her voice as she gazed in that direction, “I’m not going to be surprised by an alligator, am I?”
“Unlikely. Not this close to pack territory. They mostly keep to the other side of the bayou.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “Good. That would suck.”
Offering his arm, he said, “Come on. There’s a short pier down there.”
Eyeing the proffered limb suspiciously, she asked, “You’re not thinking about throwing me in, are you?”
