Page 18 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

Since waking up this morning, I’ve felt off-kilter.

Maybe part of it had to do with waking up in Fennick’s bed and finding him across the room from me.

I knew the answer even when I asked him where we were and whose bed I was in.

His spice surrounded me. I wanted to bury my face into the pillow and just breathe.

Seeing his muscular, hairy, and tattooed chest made my fingers itch to run them through the hair and to trace his tats and muscles first with my fingertips, then with my lips and tongue.

My desire was instantly ignited. I prayed he wouldn’t smell it, although I knew the chance of it not happening was almost zero.

When he left me alone to shower, I hid in the bathroom, but taking his word that the water was all mine, I soaked under the fall of it.

I washed and rinsed my hair twice. The last time I’d gotten to wash it was several days ago in a stream.

I shaved my armpits and legs and touched up my bikini line.

I stayed until the water began to cool, then I forced myself out.

After completing my morning hygiene leisurely, which was another thing I rarely got to do, I dressed in a clean outfit.

I had one more to go before I’d be down to no clean ones.

I wondered if he’d mind if I washed my small load of clothing.

I’d have to do it somewhere. I’d ask him later.

When I exited the bathroom, it was clear he’d been in the bedroom.

The bed was made, and the blanket and pillow were no longer on the chair.

When I went hunting for him, I followed my nose to the kitchen. He was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, though he was barefoot. He was standing at the stove stirring something. I went over to see if he needed help.

“Can I help with anything?”

“No, it’s done. I just checked the last thing. If you want, you can help me by pouring juice for both of us. And there’s coffee over there if you want some—cups above it. Creamer in the fridge.”

I did as he asked and got my coffee. I saw he already had a cup, and it was black.

I smelled it to be sure, before I topped it off for him.

While I was doing that, he’d put sausage, diced seasoned potatoes, scrambled eggs, and toast on a large platter and set it in the middle of the already set table.

“Dig in,” he said, so I did. We ate in companionable silence. After breakfast, he brought up the day ahead.

“We’ll meet with the others later tonight when they’re all home from work.

Until then, the day is ours. We can hang here, or I can take you into Needles and give you the tour if you’d like.

You missed it yesterday when the others went.

I think it would be good to see what’s here and know the lay of the land.

Or if you prefer, I can take you to one of the other houses to see what they’re doing.

However, it sounded like they want to be heavily into searching for places to stay and jobs after yesterday. I’m flexible.”

“Fennick, I appreciate the offers, but shouldn’t you be going to work?”

“Nope, I have today and tomorrow off yet. I go back to work on Sunday. I work four eight-hour days in a row, then have three days off. Unless I’ve picked up extra shifts, cover for someone, or need to work overtime.

Though being over two hours from Joshua Tree, my day ends up being more like thirteen hours. ”

“Do most people work several hours away from here?”

“It depends on what you do, but not the majority.”

“What of the other Sentinels? What do they do, and are they close by?”

“Brax is a sheriff’s deputy, like he mentioned, so he’s local.

Nico is a paramedic, and Royal is a firefighter.

They work in Needles. As a lawyer, Banner has an office in town and primarily serves local clients.

Keir goes a bit further since he’s a game warden.

The one who may end up traveling the furthest is Gunnar, since he’s a bounty hunter.

That’s negotiable on his part, though, if he decides to take bounties further away.

However, Vegas and such places aren’t out of the norm for him. There’s a lot of business in Sin City.”

“I don’t doubt there is. I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard it truly isn’t a city that seems ever to sleep.”

“Oh, well, if you’ve never been, we’ll have to rectify that one day soon.

Everyone should say they’ve been to Las Vegas at least once.

We have some friends—I guess you’d call them, not far from there—and that’s where Cerys is originally from.

She moved here about a year ago to live close to her grandma Twyla. ”

I was kinda torn. I knew that staying here with him alone was dangerous to my weak hold over my libido.

I wasn’t opposed to spending time with any of my group, as long as it wasn’t Hadar.

And I was curious to see Needles. If I were serious about giving Fennick a real opportunity to claim me as his mate, I should get to know the area.

I wanted to work, which meant finding employment to supplement my freelance photography work or, less likely, a full-time job taking pictures.

I didn’t have enough cash to open a studio, but maybe I could work for an existing photographer if there was one here.

“I’d like to see what the town is like. When I went by there yesterday, I stuck to the outskirts.

I want to know my way around. You never know when that might come in handy.

” I was thinking of escaping in case of an emergency.

Fennick’s look told me he knew what I was thinking, but didn’t say anything.

“Alright, unless you want to stay here for a bit or have something you need to do first, how about we leave in ten minutes? Is that enough time?” he asked.

“I’ll be ready.”

Exactly nine minutes later, we were headed to the garage. When he opened it, I discovered that besides his work truck, he had a motorcycle and a dark gray Jeep Patriot. I went straight to the bike.

“I didn’t know you rode,” I said.

“Yeah, all seven of us do. We attended a bike rally in Las Vegas this past summer. It’s one we go to every year. They can be a lot of fun, but then again, we find riding generally fun.”

“Is that a guys-only thing, the rally? Or did Cerys get to go?”

“She went, though it was early in their relationship, and we ran into her ex-boyfriend. Brax was less than pleased. He and Cerys had a disagreement over his reaction, and she left his ass there. That took him some talking to make up for it.” He chuckled.

“So let me guess, you guys are the local Casanovas who take the ladies from all over, riding and make their heads swoon that they’re on your bikes,” I half-teased. I wasn’t sure if I liked the idea of him having had women on his bike.

“Nope. I don’t know if any of the others have ever had a woman on their bikes. As far as I know, they haven’t, except Cerys on Brax’s. I can tell you, none have had their asses on mine. I saved that spot for my mate. It might be a bit chilly, but do you want to ride?”

The fact that Fennick said it was for his mate and then offered me a ride told me he was serious about claiming me as his—a thrill went through me at the thought. I imagined being Fennick’s mate would be incredible in so many ways. I rushed to clarify why I said anything.

“Oh, no, I wasn’t angling for you to let me ride with you, Fennick. I was merely making conversation. Your truck or Jeep is fine. Can you drive your work truck when you’re off-duty?”

“I shouldn’t drive it, but I have. And I know you weren’t angling, as you call it. But I’d love to have you riding behind me. If you want, we’ll have to get jackets and gloves. I don’t want you catching a chill.”

“Thank you. I’d like to ride with you one day, but your Jeep is fine for today.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Very sure,” I told him.

He proved to be a gentleman, just as he had been at the table this morning and coming out to the garage.

He opened my door and even went as far as to lean in and hook my seatbelt for me.

Having him this close was too much to withstand.

Before I could stop myself, my lips grazed his cheek. Fennick froze and groaned.

“I’ve got to have it,” he muttered.

“What?” I asked hoarsely.

“A taste of that mouth. Tell me no if you don’t want me to kiss you,” he said. I made up my mind quickly.

“Kiss me,” I told him.

And just like before, I was transported to somewhere else.

I vaguely registered that my seatbelt was undone.

I was turned and tugged toward Fennick, and his arms cradled me to him.

He stood between my legs. I had left my hair down, and his hand gripped it underneath at my nape.

Our tongues and lips weren’t the only things in on the action.

So were our teeth as they nipped at the other’s lips.

Again, it was Fennick who had the strength to break our kiss.

My face was flushed, and I was panting. He was breathing heavily.

“Woman, you could tempt a saint, and I’m not one.

Let’s get out of here before you make me crazier.

I don’t want to break my promise to you.

I mean to wait until you want me to claim you.

Just know, I’m ready whenever you are, and when you are, it’s final.

Until then, let me show you what you have to look forward to outside the incredible sex.

” His smirk made me smile. He was cocky, but I bet he had more than enough reason to be.

He redid my seatbelt after turning me, then shut the door before joining me in the Jeep. On the way into town, he gave me a rundown on the town’s stats and what it was like in the off-season versus the summer. I filed away what he told me, asked questions, and studied the scenery.