"So you cool with that, wolf-man?"
"I guess as long as Sorin is with you then I can deal with it. I love you, Jacquelyn."
"Funny that. I was just thinking the same thing about you." Jacque felt Fane's lips against hers. She was still getting used to being able to feel him even though he wasn't with her.
"Houston, we are clear for take off." Jacque grinned.
Jen looked at Sally, then back at Jacque. "Did you smoke something this morning and not share?"
Jacque rolled her eyes. "Do you really think I have to smoke something to get happy when I wake up next to Fane every morning?"
"Okay, point to you," Jen said, waving Jacque off.
"So I take it what you were saying with the whole Houston reference is that we're a go for tonight? Operation 'forget bossy werewolf guy' has been green-lighted?" Sally asked.
Jen covered her face and groaned at Sally's words. "Did you seriously just say that? Operation forget bossy werewolf guy? Really, Sally?"
Sally nodded in all seriousness.
"Well, if you're going to call our night out an operation – and you know how I love ops – at least get it right. It's operation 'forget freaking fine, brooding, bossy werewolf guy'," Jen supplied.
"Good call." Sally bumped fists with Jen, glad to see her friend was regaining her snarky sense of humor.
"Okay, girls. I think we need to head out and begin phase one of operation triple F, double B, WG." Jacque tried to say it with a straight face but as soon as she realized that B and G rhymed in her little abbreviation she lost the battle. Jen and Sally were laughing along with her as they all headed up the stairs.
"What exactly is phase one?" Jen raised her eyebrows at Jacque.
"Phase one, my dear, is find your inner hoochie mama."
"Ahh, I get it." Sally nodded. "It's all about embracing your inner skank."
Jen shook her head. "I think the air is thinner here because you two are clearly not getting enough oxygen to the brain."
"Oh, come on. Give us a break. Out of all of us, you've got inner skank-embracing down to an art form," Sally told her.
"True, very true, Sally. I am expert on all things skank." Jen was laughing as hard as Jacque and Sally when Decebel came around the corner.
The three girls froze while Decebel continued forward until he stood in front of Jen.
For a brief moment they simply stared at one another. The intensity that flowed between them was strong and nearly suffocating.
"I put your clothes and your suitcase in your room," Decebel told her.
Jen took a step back, surprised at his words. Decebel had seen the clothes in her suitcase, and by clothes she meant her womanly garments. She knew her face must be bright red because Decebel's eyes were glowing as she looked back at him. Before she could respond he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"Please don't allow your friends to throw your clothes out the window. I had to make sure the wolves who found your things gave up all of the souvenirs they took – souvenirs that would cause your beautiful face to turn ten shades of red." She felt his breath on her neck, and he inhaled deeply before walking away.
Jacque had once told her that when a werewolf pulled that little stunt, he was taking in a person's scent. She shivered at the thought and couldn't help turning to watch Decebel walk away.
Jen finally noticed her two friends, who were staring at her with mouths open wide.
"Did you two hear that?" she asked.
Both girls shook their heads, still unable to speak, still stuck in their state of shock at Decebel's behavior.
"Bloody hell, you two. Don't just stand there. Get in my room so I can give you the 411." Jen pushed her two best friends towards her bedroom door, all the while trying to figure out what had just taken place in the hall.
Once in the room Jen shut the door and leaned back against it. Head pressed back, she closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. Blasted wolf was going to give her a heart attack. Frustration rippled through her. Why him? Why did her heart have to pick the one guy she would never be able to have?