strengths admitted that fighting the need for sexual release after a shift was the closest thing to hell he could imagine, if such a place existed.
“Annie, you and I’ve had sex. I mean, it was years ago, but you were certainly no blushing virgin. But you’re thirty years old. You’re saying no guys? Ever?” Lily couldn’t believe they were having this conversation.
Annie nodded. “With girls, sure. I mean, we all learned how to bring each other off when we were teens, when we felt the first stirrings after shifting.” She raised her head and grinned at Lily. “Thank goodness we didn’t get aroused when we were real little. That could have been awkward.”
“No kidding. I don’t get it, though. Pregnancy’s not an issue. Human diseases don’t affect us so we’re not limited to Chanku males. You could have slept with a human. Why no guys?” She laughed. “Hell, all men are interested even if they haven’t shifted. They don’t have to be Chanku for the sex to be good.”
Annie stared off in the direction Alex had gone. Lily waited, tempted to look at Annie’s thoughts.
She was glad she hadn’t snooped when Annie sighed softly and said, “I didn’t want you to hate me, Lil.” She turned and looked directly into Lily’s eyes. “I’ve never wanted any man but Alex. I’ve always loved him. Since I was a little girl and he used to protect me from the bigger kids.”
She bit her lip and looked away. “I was always small for my age and such a serious kid, but he made me laugh. I’ve loved Alex for as long as I can remember, but he was yours. We all knew that.” She turned and smiled at Lily. “It was like the two of you were mated in the crib, or at least betrothed by your parents, which put him firmly out of bounds. I didn’t want casual sex with Alex. I wanted Alex. Unfortunately, no other man ever appealed to me. I figured if I couldn’t have the one I loved, I didn’t really care about sex with any other guy. Why do you think I chose to study in England?”
Lily hugged her close. “Oh, Annie. I’m so sorry you felt like you had to go away, that you couldn’t see what was right in front of your eyes. Alex and I were never meant to be mated. Besides, I think every girl in the pack has loved him, but he’s never looked at any of them the way he looks at you. He’s always loved women, and he’s more tomcat than wolf, but I have a feeling Alexander Aragat’s days of chasing around have come to an end.”
Annie’s eyes glowed like two amber saucers in the moonlight. “Do you really think that? And you don’t mind?”
Laughing softly, Lily leaned against the slick granite wall behind her. “Everyone, including our parents, have had us in love and bonded since we shared the same crib. I do love Alex, but not in the way of mates, and he doesn’t love me that way, either.”
She turned and cupped both hands on Annie’s shoulders. “He needs a woman like you, Annie. Someone who will love him, who appreciates his manic side, who knows what a brilliant, amazing man he is under all the silly jokes and laughter. He’s tender and sweet and very brave. I think he’s very much like his dad.”
Tears sparkled in Annie’s eyes. “I’ve always adored Uncle Stefan. He’s a lot like your dad, but without the scary vibe.”
“Scary vibe?” Laughing so hard she could barely get the words out, Lily hugged Annie close. “What’s that?”
“That look he’s got. He can stop anyone in their tracks with that look. Except you, of course.”
“I don’t think anyone’s ever stopped me,” she said. But a shiver raced down her spine. One man had that power. Only one.
Sebastian’s image filled her mind. Firmly, she pushed him aside.
Goddess, he was such a fucking idiot, but he’d run like a scared rabbit the moment the girls shifted. Lily was beautiful, a truly striking woman, especially naked, but when he saw Annie McClintock naked for the first time, it hit him like a speeding locomotive. She stood there beside Lily, looking so petite and perfect, and he’d realized that whatever he’d ever felt for Lily Cheval paled beside the feelings he had for Annie.
He’d wanted to beg her to shift back to her wolf form so he could mate with her right then and there with Lily