Page 15 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

I’d been dreaming of or thinking of Fennick when I had an intense feeling of security that overtook me.

I had no reason for it, but I slowly opened my eyes.

Those light blue eyes of his immediately ensnared my gaze.

The eyes that couldn’t be denied. They were Fennick’s.

Neither of us said a word. I didn’t scream or jump in fright.

As I lay there watching him, I wondered if he was upset.

His expression wasn’t giving anything away.

His body, while slightly tense, didn’t broadcast anger.

Slowly, I pushed myself up with one hand and then sat cross-legged.

I eased the blanket to the side. I opened my mouth, and the words that came out were what I wanted to know the most.

“Fennick, what’re you doing here?”

My question caused his expression to change. His face scrunched up in a frown. “Are you seriously asking me that?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes, I’m asking you that. Why are you here? I left a note. You knew I left of my own volition. No one told me to leave or chased me away.”

His frown changed to a scowl. “That’s not entirely true.

Maybe it’s ninety percent untrue. You may not have been happy to have Asa and the others come to Needles last night, but you came with us.

And I bet you’d still be in Needles if I hadn’t been pulled into your memory.

Not out here, sleeping unprotected on a fucking rock,” he snapped.

Okay, maybe he was angry after all. But he shouldn’t be.

“Fennick, please, there’s no reason for you to be mad.

Regarding me leaving, I don’t want you to think it’s your job to protect me, even if you are a Sentinel.

I’m an adult, and I can take care of myself.

I’ve done it for a long time. Save your strength and worry for those who need it.

I should’ve never agreed to travel with Asa’s group in the first place.

This move is a way to separate without causing a big deal to be made out of it. ”

“Bullshit,” he snapped.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“You heard me. That excuse is bullshit. You’re scared, and you ran.”

“I’m not scared of anything.” I huffed as I stood.

As I towered over him, I folded my blanket.

It didn’t appear that I would get any more sleep anytime soon.

I might as well be ready to walk as quickly as possible.

Fennick didn’t say anything. He simply watched me fold and pack it, along with my ground cover.

When I was done, I sat down on the rock. It put me at eye level with his gaze.

“Is there something you’d like to say? You came out here, following me for a reason. Tell me, and then let me get on my way. I have a long way to go,” I said as nonchalantly as I could.

“Tell me, where did you come from? You said you weren’t from Cali like the others. Where? What’s your destination?”

Wanting to get him off that topic, I shrugged as I answered him.

“I’m not from California. As for where I’m from, I’ve lived in numerous places over the last several years.

I was traveling and came out of Utah when I met up with Asa and his crew.

I’m a photographer. I go where the assignment or my fancy takes me. ”

“So you’re on your way to an assignment. Okay, where is your assignment at? Let me help you get there. No one should be alone. You heard what we said about Pytho and the Knights. You’re a target traveling alone and being a gorgeous woman.”

I fought not to be flustered by his gorgeous comment.

“I appreciate it, I do, but I’ll be fine.

It’s only a few days until I should be where I’m headed.

It’s not worth your time. You have fourteen people back in Needles who need you, plus I have no doubt there are more you and the other Sentinels will need to help.

” I smiled to appear calm and collected.

“And those fourteen have my six friends and others, if needed, who will help them get established. Asa and his crew are being settled with housing, jobs, and anything else they need. I’m not doing anything. I’ll come along to ensure you make it somewhere safely.”

My frustration at his bullheadedness was growing.

Deciding to cut him off and end this, I slid forward.

I prepared to hop down. Instead, I gasped as Fennick grabbed my waist and picked me up, then lowered me without a grunt.

I was close and had to look up at him. His blue eyes seemed to be glowing. His hands remained on my hips.

“I-I’m alright. You can let go,” I told him hoarsely.

“Not yet. Let’s assume I believe you about your destination and having a place to go.

Talk to me about this morning and your memory.

I need to understand what happened to you and those women.

Is it still happening? You said you lived with a couple who took you in as a teenager.

How did you end up with them?” His questions came out like rapid-fire.

My breath caught. I’d hoped he wouldn’t bring that up, even though thinking he’d forget it was unrealistic.

I tried to move away from him, but his hands tightened on my hips.

I could break his hold, but I enjoyed his touch.

I wish he were touching me in more intimate places and without clothing between us.

My heartbeat accelerated. I had to get away from him before I did something foolish.

“Fennick, I told you. That wasn’t a memory.

I don’t care what Nico thought after he looked into your mind, but it was a bad dream.

I’ve had it since I was small. Peaches and Ernie were an older couple who were sweet enough to take me in when others would’ve left me to be shuttled from foster home to foster home due to my age.

I lost my family when I was a teenager.” I mixed lies with truth, hoping he couldn’t tell which it was.

Some shifters and supernatural beings could tell if someone was lying. I didn’t know if Fennick was one of them. His deepening scowl warned me that he wasn’t buying it. Damn.

“I need you to move, please,” I asked nicely.

“Why?”

“Why? So I can move and not feel trapped against this rock,” I answered.

“Why would you feel trapped? I would never hurt you, Akiva. And I will never make you do something you don’t want. I’ll protect you and make sure you always have a place where you have everything you’ve ever wanted.”

His voice had dropped an octave, and his deep voice throbbed with emotion, causing my inner core to clench and weep. My pulse fluttered, and my nipples became hard beads. My heart sped up even more. I knew he heard it along with my increased breathing.

“I don’t have time for silly games or whatever this is. I need to go,” I said, pressing on his chest. His heat penetrated my palms and almost scorched me, but not in a bad way.

Rather than Fennick stepping away from me and letting go of my hips, he used his hands to bring me flush against his body.

As I gasped at the erection digging into me, his mouth captured mine, and his wet, hot tongue slithered inside my mouth to explore the interior and then wrestle with my tongue.

I couldn’t seem to hold in the moan he tore from me or make him stop.

Of their own volition, my hands slid into the hair on his nape and stayed there, tugging gently as I eagerly returned his kiss.

It was, without a doubt, the best kiss of my entire life.

By the time he reluctantly, it seemed, pulled away, I was ready to strip off my clothes and beg him to take me right here against this rock. That was how insane I was.

I’d been influenced by my bear’s mating cycle since I was thirteen.

The urge to have sex and mate could be intense with our kind.

However, for me, I was able to temper Nova and not just run out and have sex with the first guy I saw, whether he was a shifter or not.

Standing here with Fennick, I knew I’d do just that if I didn’t get away from him, and Nova and I weren’t even ovulating.

How much more would it intensify if we were? I pushed hard this time on his chest.

Fennick let go of me. I knew he chose to let me put distance between us, not me breaking away.

I moved to create three feet of space between us.

I was trying to appear unaffected, though it was stupid.

We could smell the pheromones we were both putting out.

And if I was in doubt, the bulge in his pants told me he was turned on.

My signs were hidden in my bra and pants.

Fennick didn’t say anything. He observed me.

I was the one to break the tense silence.

“Fennick, you shouldn’t have done that.”

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because you’re confusing the situation.

I’m heading out on my own. I don’t need you with me.

I can take care of myself. I’m sorry I took you into a dream I’ve had for years.

I don’t know how it happened. Please, go back to Needles and help Asa and the others settle.

I hope they remain safe there with you and the other Sentinels. ”

“How did I confuse the situation?”

Why was he pretending not to know? “You know how. You kissed me. It was inappropriate to do that. If you’re looking for sex, I have no doubt there are plenty of women back in Needles and the surrounding tri-state area who will gladly give you sex.”

As I said the words, the thought made me want to snarl and let out my claws. I hated the idea of Fennick being with another woman, whether she was a shifter or human. I suppressed the combined growl of me and Nova, barely.

“Answer me this. Do you have a mate? Or a boyfriend? Is that why you’re so anxious to move along alone?”

There was my chance to get him to turn back. Maybe once he knew there was no chance I’d let him have sex with me, he might forget me. The thought hurt, but I shoved that feeling away.

“Yes, and he won’t be happy to see a man with me, especially a bear. He’s possessive.”