Wanting (PAVAD) Read online

  Paige disappeared, but Jules knew she’d most likely found her bed. Paige ran on an odd metabolic clock. She could stay up for days at a time and be fine, but once she hit bottom, she slept hard. Jules worried about her friend. Paige’s nightmares would catch up to her one day.

  Her sigh was long as she threw her backpack over her shoulder. Thankfully, Jules didn’t live too far away. Fifteen minutes and she’d be home in her own bed.

  ***

  Malachi knew when she was ready to leave, and he met her by the back door. “Ready to go, Julia? You’re more than welcome to stay here. We still have a bed free.”

  “What about Paige?” Her words were low, exhausted, and suspicious. Mal fought a soft smile. He resisted the urge to torment her somehow—she was obviously too tired for a good sparring match. In fact, she looked more than tired, she looked almost wan.

  “Crashed on the porch. Hammock.”

  “It’s thirty degrees outside! And snowing!”

  “It’s enclosed and there’s a small heater out there. She’ll be fine. She’s done it before. She likes sleeping outside.” Probably a remnant of sleeping in alleys and on park benches. It made Mal frown. Maybe it wasn’t a good thing. He’d have to give it more thought. Later.

  “No. I’m going home.” Jules shook her head. “Don’t leave her out there. It’s too cold for her to lie out there.”

  “Honestly—I think she did it deliberately. Put some space between her and Mikhail. He makes her nervous.”

  “That’s because he’s a jackass. I think it’s a trait his brother shares.” Her dig was said around a yawn so it lacked impact. Mal grabbed her arm and shook it chidingly.

  “That’s not nice, Dr. Bellows. I’m a perfect gentleman. My brother’s the same. That’s the way our mother raised us.”

  Julia snorted then sniffled. “Your mother may be a remarkable woman—and I do mean that—but she failed in one area. Two, if you count your brother.”

  “You are a heartless woman.”

  “I never said otherwise.” Jules walked carefully down the drive, her heels crunching in the snow. Malachi stayed at her side in the uneven drive.

  Jules said nothing as they approached her car. She slipped her key in the lock and turned to her companion. “Well, as you can see I’ve arrived at my car. Your duty is done—”

  He grinned. “Juli—”

  The thud sent him reeling into her. Jules screamed, arms reaching up to catch him as he fell. Dark shadows seemed to come from everywhere, surrounding them quickly. Malachi jerked, his hand falling against her car. He spun, fist shooting out at the first shadow…

  Other Titles

  By

  Calle J. Brookes

  Paranormal

  The Blood King (Dardanos)

  Awakening the Demon’s Queen (Dardanos)

  The Healer’s Heart (Dardanos)

  Once Wolf Bitten (Dardanos)

  Live or Die (Dardanos)

  The Seer’s Strength (Dardanos)

  The Warrior’s Woman (Dardanos)

  Romantic Suspense

  Watching (PAVAD)

  Wanting (PAVAD)

  Calle Jaye Brookesis first and foremost a fiction writer. She enjoys crafting paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She reads almost every genre except horror. In her day job she is a fiction content editor for an epublisher that opened in 2011. She spends most of her time juggling family life and writing, while reminding herself that she can’t spend all of her time in the worlds found within books. Calle Jaye loves to be contacted by her readers via email and at www.CalleJBrookes.Wordpress.com