Jodi_ByTheLight Read online

  “I assume you had no idea she’d done that.”

  He snorted. “I had no clue. She was given a choice of returning the jewelry or they would take my life. She chose to keep the jewelry.”

  “What a fucking bitch.” She growled.

  “I was harder to kill than an average human. After they left me for dead, I lay on the floor for days, my body knitting its bones back together. It took about a week until I was able to walk, another month to be completely healed.”

  “Where the hell was Laura?”

  “I found out later she had been shacked up at her lover’s house waiting for me to die in order to inherit my stuff. When I didn’t die, it put a kink in her plans.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you kill her?” She jumped to her feet. “I would have.”

  Damon stood, a little surprised by her anger. “It wasn’t worth it. When I was healed, I found out my Pack had kicked me out for not showing up for work.”

  She jerked her head, her emerald eyes flashing with rage. “They fired you? You were left for dead in your own home! Did you tell them that?”

  He laughed and pulled her closer. “It didn’t matter. Being kicked out meant one less tie to Louisiana. I left New Orleans and moved to Arkansas. I found a job with Barrett, the Arkansas Pack Master. Despite what the Louisiana Pack master told Barrett about me, Barrett still hired me.”

  “You let Laura have the loft?”

  “I was willing to pay whatever price to get her out of my life, for good.”

  “I understand that.” Ava nodded against his chest. He tightened his arms around her. Talking about his past hadn’t hurt as bad as it once did. This time, it felt like he was finally ready to let that part of his life go.

  “Is this the first time you’ve been back to Louisiana?”

  “Yes. I should have come back sooner to see Granny.” He ran his hand through his hair. “She was the only one who took me in and cared for me. She didn’t expect anything in return.”

  “She seems like a great judge of character.” She picked up his hand and kissed his palm. Immediately, his dick went on alert and hardened.

  He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. “Why hasn’t a male claimed you?”

  “I’m too hard to hold, I guess.” She sighed. “I’ve been told I’m stubborn.”

  “You’re fucking perfect.”

  “That’s because you’re the only male that is strong enough to handle me. Maybe this whole kidnapping thing is fate’s way of bringing us together.” Her breath was warm against his lips as pleasure curled low in his belly.

  “You keep talking like that and I’m going to show you how good I can handle you.”

  She rubbed her body against his. “Promise?”

  Oh, yeah. He was definitely good and hard now with her lush curves pressing into his body.

  She parted her lips as he covered her mouth and thrust his tongue between her lips. She was sweet and sexy and he knew he was never going to get enough of her taste, even if he lived a million years.

  Her fingers threaded through his hair and rested at the nape of his neck as she clung to him. Digging his fingers into her hips he ground himself against her sweet spot. She moaned into his mouth.

  “Ava.” He dragged his mouth away, licking and kissing a trail to her neck. He had long silenced those voices in his head telling him this was a bad idea.

  “I want you inside me.” She jumped and wrapped her long legs around his waist.

  “Anyone else touches you, I’ll kill him. You got that?” He held her face in his hands as his possessiveness burned through him.

  ***

  “Housekeeping!” The female voice on the other side of the door was followed by three sharp knocks.

  “Fuck,” Damon ground out between his clenched teeth. It looked like fate had other plans for them.

  “Doesn’t look like we’re going to get to.” Ava rolled off him.

  Damon stomped to the door and threw it open. “We don’t need anything, thanks.” He tried to shut the door, but the pudgy housekeeper put out her hand and stopped him.

  “It’s after ten o’clock.”

  “So?”

  “Checkout is ten o’clock. I have to get this room ready for our next guest.” She lifted her chin and propped her hands on her ample hips.

  “We’re not checking out.”

  The housekeeper kept her eyes on him as she retrieved her clipboard off the cart. Glancing down, she nodded and thrust the clipboard under his nose.

  “This says you are.”

  “That’s wrong.” Damon glanced at the clipboard and shook his head. “We’ll go downstairs and straighten this out.”

  The housekeeper nodded and pushed her cart to the next door.

  “I’ve got to go downstairs.”

  “I’ll go with you.” Ava grabbed the key and followed him to the elevator.

  Damon frowned at the long line winding toward at the front desk. He tried walking up to the front of the line, but all that earned him was a, “You’ll have to wait your turn,” and a glare from the clerk.

  After fifteen minutes of waiting, he finally reached the clerk.

  Ava patted his arm. “Be nice.”

  “I’m always nice.” He scowled.

  “You’re never nice.” She gave him a wide smile.

  “Yeah, you’re right. Maybe you should handle this.”

  She winked and patted him on the butt. “Will do, sweetheart.”

  “How may I help you, miss?” The desk clerk identified as Sam from his white name badge gave Ava a weary smile. With his index finger, he shoved his glasses up his large nose and sniffed.

  “I think there has been a mistake.”

  “Oh, well, let’s see what we can do to make you happy.” Sam smiled politely.

  “We’re in room 351 and the house cleaning lady said that we were checking out today and, you see, that’s simply not the case.” She batted her long eyelashes at Sam. If Damon didn’t view the older man as a threat, he would definitely be pulling some alpha shit right now and ripping the man’s liver out.

  Sam’s eyes hardly left Ava’s as his fingers clicked along the keyboard at lightning-fast speed. His smile faltered as the computer screen drew his full attention.

  “Well, it says here that you two paid cash for two nights when you arrived. If you would like another night, we could definitely arrange something.” The man looked at Ava and his smile returned.

  Ava turned to Damon and he dug his wallet out of his back pocket. “How much?”

  “One hundred and sixty-nine dollars.”

  His head jerked up. “One hundred and sixty-nine dollars? I paid that much for both nights we stayed.”

  Sam gave him an apologetic look. “I understand, sir, but that was our weekday rate. The one-hundred-and-sixty-nine dollar rate is our weekend rate. They are having some kind of erotic writer’s convention down the street, and we’ve almost got the whole hotel booked.” Sam looked over his shoulder. “You know, you two were lucky. In fact, the majority of the people behind you are probably not going to be able to get a room.”

  “I don’t have that much cash.” He frowned.

  “What about a credit card? I saw where you reserved the room with a MasterCard. If you’d like us to run it, I’d be happy to do that.”

  Closing his wallet, Damon shoved it back into his jeans pocket and grabbed Ava’s hand. “I’m going to have to say no. We’re trying to get out of debt, and I hate using a credit card. Who knows, maybe I’ll get lucky at blackjack.”

  “Yes, sir, but there might not be a room available if you wait any longer.” Sam frowned, looking from them to the computer screen.

  “We’ll take our chances.” Damon spoke over his shoulder as he pulled Ava through the crowded line.

  Once they were alone on the elevator, she turned. “Okay, what was that about?”

  “I can’t use a credit card. It can be traced to our location.” He stepped off the elevator a
nd hurried down the hall. The housekeeper’s head popped out the door a few rooms down, and she gave them the stink eye before they disappeared into the room.

  Damon pulled out his duffle bag and began shoving all of their stuff into it.

  “What do we do now?” She gathered their toiletries from the bathroom.

  Damon was already dialing his cell phone when she came out of the bathroom.

  “I’ll call Jayden to see if we can crash in his room tonight.” After a few rings, it went straight to voicemail. Cursing, he left Jayden a brief message.

  “We can’t stay here.” Damon grabbed her jacket and handed it to her. “Let’s go get something to eat while we wait on Jayden to call back.”

  ***

  Ava peeked over her plastic-cover menu at Damon. He had been silent since they sat down at the diner.

  Biting her lip, she lowered her plastic menu. “Damon?”

  “Yeah?” He didn’t take his eyes off the menu.

  “Do we have enough money to eat?”

  “Yes, Ava, get whatever you want. I should have brought more money with me for the room, but I hadn’t anticipated some unexpected expenses.”

  Her stomach fell at the tense tone of his voice. She was the unexpected expense. She shoved her menu away, not even hungry anymore.

  “It’s because I had to buy some clothes, isn’t it?”

  He lowered the menu until their eyes met. “This isn’t your fault so don’t start blaming yourself.”

  “Then you stop blaming yourself for not having enough cash.”

  He stared at her for a couple of seconds before his lips twitched, breaking out into a grin. “Deal.”

  He reached for her hand across the table. “When Jayden calls back, I’ll see about us staying with him. Although I don’t know how he’ll feel about sleeping on the couch in his own room.”

  “You’re kicking him out of his bed?” She gave him a droll look.

  “Yep, so I can get you in it.” He brought her fingers to his sensual mouth, kissing each fingertip, making her stomach purr with desire. It amazed her that a man could have so much control over her body.

  “Can I take your order?”

  Damon slowly looked up at the waitress. “Fuck.”

  ***

  Damon couldn’t believe he was looking into the pale blue eyes he’d once thought he’d loved. Oh, how wrong he’d been. Now, it was like looking at a perfect stranger.

  “Hello, Laura.” He could smell Ava’s possessiveness pouring off her as she glared at Laura.

  “Damon.” Her voice was but a whisper as her hollow eyes shone with surprise. Something similar to pity swirled in his stomach at her gaunt appearance. What had happened to the vivacious girl he had once known?

  “I didn’t know you were back in Louisiana.”

  “I’m not. Just passing through.” He shrugged and turned his gaze back to Ava. His heart softened. She sat there, her dark green eyes sparkling like emeralds with banked anger.

  “Laura, this is Ava.”

  “You’ve mated.” If it were possible, Laura paled even more.

  “Yes.” Ava threaded her fingers through his.

  He stilled. Though it was a lie, Ava spoke it with such conviction that he almost let himself believe it might happen.

  He wanted nothing more than to jump the table and mount Ava, right here in front of everyone.

  “I’m glad to see you happy, Damon.” Laura’s voice brought his attention back to the situation and away from the throbbing erection in his pants.

  “What are you doing here, Laura? Why aren’t you living in New Orleans?” He scowled.

  She shrugged her thin shoulders and he wondered if they’d snap like twigs with the slight motion.

  “I had some trouble.”

  “Really? I thought you and your lover would be living it up in my loft.” He didn’t bother keeping the sarcasm out of his voice.

  “I got kicked out.”

  “Of your own home?” He narrowed his eyes.

  “The neighbors got upset when I couldn’t pay the light bill. I had no way to keep the food cold and it spoiled. They complained about the smell and said I was running the place into the ground. They got together, got an attorney, and had me evicted.”

  “Why couldn’t you pay your bills? I would have thought with your all your jewelry, you’d be set.” The jewelry he had bought.

  “Jimmy stole my jewelry to buy drugs.”

  “Jimmy is your boyfriend?” Ava was watching Laura as if waiting for her to attack. From the looks of Laura, she didn’t have the strength to fight her way out of a potato chip bag.

  “Not anymore.” Laura shook her head. “He ran off and I never saw him again.”

  “What about a job? Didn’t you work? Couldn’t you have paid your own bills?” Ava raised her eyebrow. It was clear Ava had no sympathy for the girl.

  Laura didn’t speak and he knew exactly why. “After she moved in with me, Laura quit working.” He expected the anger and resentment to still be there after such a bitter memory. Surprisingly, those emotions were long gone.

  “Why the hell did you did you do that?” Ava snarled. She was definitely not giving Laura any slack.

  “Damon took care of me. Why should I have to work?” Laura shrugged.

  “Every woman needs her own money. She shouldn’t have to depend on a man to support her.” Ava narrowed her eyes at Laura.

  “That’s easy for you to say. I’m willing to bet he bought the clothes on your back and a lot more.” Laura looked from Ava to him, and he saw something wistful, longing toward him. Laura was out of her fucking mind if she thought she had a chance with him now.

  He looked over at Ava, expecting a witty comeback, like always. Instead she didn’t speak. She looked a little uncomfortable and tried to pull her hand away from his. He tightened his grip. Their gazes met for a brief second.

  “I had to move back to Shreveport after I left New Orleans. I’ve been here for four years.” Laura hefted the pad out of her apron pocket along with a pen. “I’m sorry. I should have taken your order by now.” She shook her head and laughed a little. “It’s just seeing you again was a real shocker.”

  “No problem.” Damon waited for Ava to order before placing his own. They both watched Laura head back into the kitchen for their drinks.

  “She’s changed a lot.”

  “I hope she doesn’t spit in my food.” Ava looked at him under her lashes. “She’s still pretty.”

  “She looks like death warmed over.” Laura paled in comparison to Ava.

  Ava met his eyes as he kissed the back of her hand.

  Laura returned with their drinks. Ava pulled back away as the plastic glasses were placed on the table.

  “Thanks,” Ava mumbled.

  He nodded his thanks at Laura, who lingered a little longer than necessary.

  “Lorry said she saw you.”

  He looked up at Laura. “She didn’t mention anything about you living in Shreveport.”

  Laura’s lips parted under the force of a weak smile. “She probably didn’t want you to know that I wasn’t doing well financially. She always did care what people thought about her.”

  “I guess you two were a lot alike in that area.” He arched his eyebrow at her.

  Laura’s smile faded. “I’ve changed, Damon. I really have.”

  “Laura, you got another customer,” a plus-sized waitress with hair that looked like a brown football shouted from behind the counter.

  Laura turned. A strange metamorphosis occurred as her gaze landed on her customer. She stood up straight and stuck out her nonexistent breasts. Her face brightened as she stretched her lips into a wide smile. In the space of a few seconds Laura transformed back into that same selfish person he’d known so long ago.

  She hurried over to the table where an older man dressed in a suit and tie sat. He greeted her with a smile and a wink.

  Apparently, Laura hadn’t changed.

  She should g
o into acting. He shook his head, feeling a small amount of pity for the older man.

  For the rest of lunch, Ava didn’t say much despite his attempt at conversation. He sucked at making conversation. Hell, he didn’t even like to talk. When she didn’t engage him back, he finally gave up.

  After a painfully silent lunch, he motioned Laura over to get the check while Ava excused herself to the bathroom. He thought about not leaving a tip, since Laura didn’t deserve it. In the end his softer side won out and he left a ten-dollar tip.

  As soon as Ava exited the bathroom, he stood, grateful to leave.

  Ava strode to his bike. His eyes were glued to her sexy little ass and he suddenly couldn’t help himself. Coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

  She let out a low moan. Damn, he wanted to bite her right there on her sensitive flesh.

  She laughed softly, her ribcage trembling under his hands. “What’s gotten into you?” She caressed his scarred cheek. Her touch was cool and soothing against the jagged flesh.

  “I love the way you smell.” He kissed the curve of her neck. He closed his eyes, inhaling her scent into his lungs, into his very soul. He might not have forever with her, but he had this moment. He didn’t want to waste a minute.

  She tugged his hand upward to her mouth where she kissed it. She turned in his arms and smiled up at him. “Do you have a plan?”

  “Well, first, I’ll take your clothes off and then mine.”

  “No, not that.” She swatted his arm and laughed. “A plan about where we will spend the night since we have no money and can’t use a credit card.”

  “I’ll try calling Jayden again. I’m sure he’s finished breaking up the brawl between the two blue hairs by now.” He plucked his cell phone out of his pocket and punched in Jayden’s number. After a few rings it went straight to voicemail. Again.

  “Shit.” He ran his hand through his hair.

  “What?”

  “Jayden’s not answering.”

  “He’s probably still working.”

  “He always carries his phone. And he always answers it.” He thrust his hands through his hair. Something was off.

  His phone rang.

  “Hello?”