Amber: July: Mystic Zodiac, Book 7 (8 page)

A
mber wiped
down the bar one last time and cast a glance at Andreas. He sat on his bar stool, the one she’d evicted a couple of regulars from, talking to Frost. Andreas had been there the entire night and not one soul bothered her.

She strained to hear what they were saying, but it was no use. Their deep, hushed voices were too low to discern anything. If only she had that fabulous wolfie hearing like her mate.
No. Not his mate,
she chastised herself.
I’m not a fucking wolf, and he’s just a weekend fling. That’s it. Nothing else. Just a fun way to experience some personal fireworks over the holiday weekend.

“Amber, I think that spot is as clean as it’s going to get.” Frost’s amused voice broke her reverie.

Chucking the rag in the bin, she grabbed her purse out of the safe and headed for the door. “Night,” she called out, walking away. She’d been caught mooning over a guy. Frost didn’t say it, but she could read it in his eyes. Could see the humor that danced in his light orbs.

“Don’t think you’re getting away from me that easy.” Andreas strolled up next to her.

“Well, you were so busy with Frost, I figured you had a different date for the night.”

“Not likely, glykó mou.” He draped an arm around her shoulders, tugging her in close.

She damn near melted into his side. His warmth and spicy scent washed over her, easing the tension that built during work. The longer she stood in the shelter of his arm, the quicker that tension turned into something more sensual. Her mind assaulted her with thoughts of how it felt to be filled by him. How he thrust into her like she was his only safe haven.

As they reached her SUV, she pulled the keys out. As quickly as she had them in her hand, they were gone. Andreas plucked them from her fingers and guided her to the passenger seat.

Getting her up into the seat, he leaned across her body and buckled her in. He paused, their faces in alignment. Pressing a swift kiss on her lips, he shifted back marginally. “You relax. I’ll take care of you.”

The door closed, and he was in the driver’s seat before she registered how much she loved hearing those words. The internal battle of resisting and reminding herself not to fall for him dissipated, and she allowed herself to relax.

A
mber puttered
around the kitchen in an attempt to keep her mind and hands busy. She straightened the towel hanging on the oven handle. Adjusted the mugs sitting next to the coffee maker. She wiped down the counters. Looked through the fridge, tossing out any expired or old food.

Andreas had called his friend Theo over ten minutes ago to come and get him. She didn’t know where the man was coming from, so she had no idea when to expect him.

With her lover back in the bedroom getting dressed after pulling his clothes from the dryer, she felt aimless and adrift. Her heart worked over time, beating out of control as nerves attacked her.

Their weekend together was over, and for the love of Demeter, she didn’t know what to do. Her life felt as if it were careening out of control. Feelings and emotions welled in her chest. Things she had never dealt with before. Nervousness. Discontent. Uncertainty. Her stomach tumbled uncomfortably. Those damn butterflies threatening to escape at any minute.

She fixed herself a cup of coffee. Breathing in the normally soothing scent of a fresh brew. Yet this time, it made the butterflies dance harder and nausea churn.

Moving into the dining room, she walked over to the bay window and stared out, checking to see if her neighbors were up to anything even remotely interesting. Marge plucked weeds from her flower garden. Mr. Henderson, Marge’s next-door neighbor, pretended not to ogle her, while sitting on his front porch. The two retirees were usually a hoot to watch, but today Amber couldn’t fall into their antics.

A huge black truck pulled up into her driveway. The rumbling of the engine vibrated the ground enough to feel it inside the house. The door popped open and out stepped Theo, the shaggy-haired wolf. He slammed the door and looked around. Marge, the sweet dear and nosy neighbor she was, practically flew across the street to intercept him, and no doubt interrogate him.

Not a single person could come into their cul-de-sac without her knowing who they were and why they were there. She protected them all in her own quirky way. Amber was sure she caught the older woman casting a spell on an unwanted solicitor one weekend not too long ago. The man never did come back to stop at the rest of the houses.

Andreas’s warm scent swirled around her, raising the hairs on the back of her neck. He had to be coming down the hall. She was beginning to notice her senses were sharper than before, and idly wondered if it had to do with the bite. Within seconds of becoming aware of him, he wrapped his strong arms around her from behind. “Anything good going on out there?” Andreas pressed a kiss her to head, and she melted into him, leaning back into his strong body.

“Theo just pulled up. I’m sure you felt it with that monster truck of his. Marge is chatting him up at the moment.”

“He’s looking this way.” He leaned them forward slightly. “Is he blushing?”

Amber chuckled. “Looks like it. Marge does have a dirty little mind.”

“I’ll say. Enough about them, I’d rather spend my last couple of minutes concentrating on you.” He spun her in his arms, capturing her lips with his before she could steady her legs. It was a good thing he held her firmly against his body.

She slid her hands up his chest, wrapping them around his neck. She nibbled on his lips. Sucked his tongue into her mouth. And fell into a pool of lust. Heat licked at her core and made her head spin. The man simply undid her at every turn.

A knock on the door had her dragging her mouth away. She untangled her limbs and went to answer it. They both knew who it was.

Pulling the door open, a flustered Theo stood in front of her. He grinned nervously and kept casting glances behind him.

The laugh that fell from Amber’s mouth loosened something in her. “Don’t worry, Marge isn’t going to hog-tie you and hold you captive in her bedroom. I think Mr. Henderson might object.”

Theo’s shoulders slumped as a relieved breath escaped his lungs. “Thank the Gods for that. Is Andreas ready?”

The man in question appeared behind Amber. That same thrill she got every time he was close skittered down her spine.

“Give me a second. I know you need to get back so you can get together with your Dad.”

Amber scrunched her brow in question, looking between the men.

“I work for my Dad as well. Nothing like a mandatory Monday gathering to end a great weekend.” Theo shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded toward Andreas. “Thanks for putting up with him the last couple of days. I know he can be a beast to keep entertained.”

“Is that what they call a weekend fling theses days—entertainment?”

Andreas’s heavy palm came to rest on the back of her neck. “It was more than a weekend fling.”

“If you say so,” she said, pushing casualness into the words she didn’t feel.

Andreas and Theo shared a look she couldn’t interpret. “Good seeing you, Amber. Maybe I’ll see you around again sometime,” Theo said.

“If you ever come out to
Ecstasis D
again then I’m sure you will. Drive safe.”

Theo turned and left. She expected Andreas to follow on his heels. Instead, he closed the door and pushed her up against it. He locked her in place with his pelvis. His hands coasting down her arms until he could link their fingers together. Up they went; pressed over her head, and she was forced to tip her head back to look into his face.

Gold glittered in the depths of his eyes, reflecting the needs of his wolf. She could feel the animal ripple beneath Andreas’s skin. The man himself gritted his teeth and furrowed his brow. “This is more than a weekend fling.”

“That’s what you said before.”

“And I’ll hear you say it before I leave,” he demanded. Dipping his head, he kissed her forehead. Then feathered his lips across her eyes, down her nose, and over her cheeks. Light, delicate touches at odds with the strong, masculine Alpha pinning her in place.

His cock thickened noticeably against her lower belly. Goddess, it felt good. The memories of the last few days flitted through her head. Kissing. Fucking. Talking. Lying in bed curled around each other. Listening to him breath while he slept. Never in her life had she felt as content and happy as she did with him.

“Amber,” he growled, his fangs visible in his mouth.

What would it hurt to acknowledge the weekend had meant more to her than she wanted it to? “Fine,” she whispered, afraid to give the words too much voice. “It was more than a fling.”

The tension drained from him, and he lowered her hands. Brushing her hair off her shoulder, he then cupped her cheek gently. “I’ll see you next weekend. That’s the earliest I’ll be able to get out here. Expect me Friday. I’ll meet you at the bar, so save me my seat.”

She nodded dumbly as the words tried to process. She heard them. Knew what they meant. But what he was saying wasn’t sinking in.

His need-filled gaze lowered to her lips when she licked them. His mouth curved into a wicked grin.

She expected a kiss to follow the sinful look on his face. But she never expected him to dive for her neck. Sharp fangs pierced her skin and he sucked deeply. He groaned against her flesh. She clung to him as her legs wobbled and knees threatened to give out. Heat rushed through her bloodstream like a bolt of lightning. Every nerve ending burst into flame. An orgasm roused by the feel of him—mentally, physically—was just on the edge. Her pussy throbbed and nipples beaded. A slight gyration against him proved not to be enough. She wiggled and tried to worm her way onto one of his massive thighs. The need to grind her clit, build friction between them making her desperate.

Suddenly, he pulled away, licking his marks before he stepped back. Taking every last delectable inch out of her reach, along with her orgasm.

“Andreas,” she pleaded, reaching for him to pull him back. He chuckled and it pissed her off. This wasn’t how it went with other men. She wasn’t the one breathless and begging for more.

“No, glykó mou. I want you to think about that while I’m gone. Every night while you lie in bed, I want your thoughts focused on what you felt when you were with me.
How
you felt with me. The warmth that enveloped you. The heat of your need. How your Siren called for the wolf, and how the woman called for the man.”

He kissed her hard and quick, and yet it still left her breathless. With his hands on her upper arms, he shifted her, allowing him to open the door and leave.

“Friday, glykó mou. Don’t forget.”

She scrambled to watch him climb into the truck. Theo reversed out of the drive, taking her heart with him.

A
ndreas pulled
his SUV into his reserved spot at nine on the dot Tuesday morning. Usually, after a long weekend, he went into work early to make up for lost time. After Theo dropped him off at his house the previous day, he found he wasn’t in so much of a hurry to get back to his pile of paperwork. Other things were on his mind. Other adventures called his name.

He had a mate waiting for him, whether she admitted it or not, and a storefront waiting to be claimed. On the long drive back to the city, the pieces of the puzzle started falling into place. The storefront would become a men’s store much like
A Shift in Style,
but on a more tailored, upscale, personal level. Appointments would be necessary for in-store visits. Private rooms. Designated attendants. He didn’t doubt it would be a success, and it would bring more people into Summerset, he was sure of it.

He didn’t know how the small town would like his idea, but he could find out with a few phone calls. His talk with Frost about the town and business viability helped ease his initial concerns. But the only way he could make those calls to get more information was if he got out of his vehicle and headed into his office.

Grabbing his briefcase and coffee, Andreas climbed out and made the long trip to the tenth floor. People got on and off the elevator. No one spoke to anyone outside of their working realm, and even the few rare times it happened, conversation was limited to small polite pleasantries.
Good morning. How was your weekend?
The generic greeting and mild interest people feigned to make it through the day.

He wanted more than that. He could see that now. After the weekend at the bar, the interaction with complete strangers, he craved synergy with other Mystics, other people. He even contemplated Theo’s offer to join his Pack. But Andreas would need to talk to Amber and his Elders first.

The elevator dinged on his floor and he got off. Walking through the office, it was a buzz of activity. He employed market analysts, clothing buyers, designers, and so much more. The company took up the entire tenth floor. A coup when he first started, but now it felt like more of a burden. He loved the company, but deep inside he was ready to hand the day-to-day running of it off.

“Good morning, Mr. Stathos.” Emily greeted him with her usual smile. “Is everything all right?”

“Good morning, Emily. Everything is fine. Why do you ask?”

“You’re always in early after a long weekend.” She glanced at her slim gold watch. “It’s ten after nine now. It’s late compared to your typical habits.”

He smiled softly in understanding. “True. I’m thinking of turning over a new leaf.”

Her slim brown eyebrows drew down. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.” She sighed and shook her head, erasing the traces of her frown. “Mr. Carlisle is in your office, and your brother called.”

Andreas canted a look at his secretary. “Which one?” It wasn’t like her to hold back pertinent information.

Emily flushed bright red. The woman was never taken off guard around his family, except for one.

“Giorgos,” he replied, answering his own question. He should have known. The man flustered the ever-unflappable woman. Andreas wondered what his younger brother had said to throw the woman off her game, but figured he’d hate the answer, and dealing with Gio wasn’t something he wanted on his plate at the moment.

“Yes, sir. He said he needed to speak to you about your sister.”

“Lina or Iliana?”

“I’m sorry, he didn’t say, and I forgot to find out.” The flush on Emily’s cheeks brightened. She tilted her head down in an attempt to hide it, but it didn’t work.

“That’s fine. I’ll call him back and find out. Could you please call Nikos and have him come to my office as soon as possible. There are a few things I need to discuss with him.”

“Of course, sir. Is there anything else?”

“No. That’ll be all for now.” He started to turn but stopped. “I hope you had a pleasant weekend with your family.”

“Oh, we did. The boys ran wild, and I had a few precious moments to relax by the lake.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He turned and strode into his office, curious as to why Theo was already waiting.

Theo was laid out on the couch. A tan arm flung over his face. “It’s about time you got here. I’ve been waiting for a good hour.”

Andreas dropped his briefcase next to the desk. Leaning against the wood edge, he studied his friend. He wore the same clothes he had on the day before. A pair of jeans and a rumpled blue T-shirt. His hair was mussed, like he’d been running his hands through it repeatedly. “You look like shit.”

Theo dropped his arm and glared. “Thanks.”

“I take it the mandatory gathering didn’t go so well yesterday?”

Theo pushed to a sitting position. He shook his head and glanced at Andreas’s coffee mug.

Andreas passed it to him, and then leaned over to buzz Emily.

“Yes, sir?” She chirped through the intercom.

“Can you bring in two coffees for me please? Maybe a couple pastries, if there are any left in the break room.”

“Of course, sir. I’ll be just a minute.”

Theo took a healthy gulp and passed the mug back. Andreas waved it off. His friend needed it more than he did at the moment.

“Want to talk about it?”

“Dad is retiring and wants me to take over the business
and
the Pack.” He rolled his head from side to side, popping his neck.

“Damn.” Theo and he always assumed Theo’s father wouldn’t pass on the business until he died…most likely sitting
in
his chair at the office.

“Yeah. I told him
no
on the business. CFO I can handle. Running the entire thing—not so much. Jasper is more suited to it.”

“He does have his hands in more of the company. He’s pretty damn good at his job too.”

“That’s what I told my Dad as well, and he agreed.”

“Then why offer it to you?”

“I’m the oldest. Hierarchy and all that. Jasper is getting the company. I’m still CFO, but will start taking more interest as a whole.”

“Jasper okay with that?”

Theo snorted. “He doesn’t have a choice. The Pack and the company go hand-in-hand.”

“And you’re taking the Pack.” There was no question to it. Andreas always figured Theo would. He was laid back, but an Alpha through and through. He’d been acting as his father’s confidant and sounding board for years.

“Yep. I don’t know what the fuck got into me. I actually insisted on it.”

Emily knocked once and entered. She placed the tray with the requested items on the desk and left without a word.

Andreas grabbed a coffee and took a healthy drink before taking a seat at the desk. He pivoted so he could see Theo. “Looks like there are changes all around us then.”

Theo perked up, looking more than happy to shift focus onto something else. “What changes are you making?”

“There are a couple of things. Some more personal than others. At some point, I want to talk to you about the Pack.”

Theo’s eyes opened wide. Andreas continuously told Theo he wouldn’t join, and his news was clearly a surprise. Though he wasn’t sure about joining it still, he had an idea he thought Theo might like.

“I’m going to put Nikos in charge of
A Shift in Style
. I’m ready for something else.”

Theo’s surprise faded, replaced by a knowing smirk. “And that something else is your mate in a town three hours away.”

Andreas nodded. “I want to open a storefront there for a new business venture as well.”

“Really?” Theo seemed to mull over the information Andreas had given him. “What kind?”

“Similar to the current company, but a lot more intimate, appointment only personal shopping on an upscale level. I’m thinking of calling it
A Shift in Luxury.
”

“I’m intrigued.” His eyes narrowed, and Andreas could practically see Theo thinking. “You should set up an online presence as well. People could pop into one of the Style stores and get measured, then submit their information on the Luxury website for a personal shopper.”

Andreas liked what he heard and a myriad of ideas flowed in his head, expanding on his original idea. A sense of anticipation and excitement filled his chest. “Shoppers could supply information of what they’re looking for. Price limits. Include shipping in the price.”

Theo grinned as Andreas rambled on. “You have the spark back in your eyes. This is what happens when you don’t spend all of your time cooped up in this soul sucking glass enclosure. The ideas flow. Mates are found.”

A heavy knock came from the door.

“Open,” Andreas called out.

The door opened and Nikos walked in. “Andreas. Theo.” Nikos nodded at them both.

Andreas motioned for his brother to sit. “Come little brother. We have much to talk about.”