RockMeTonight (17 page)

I nodded. Then I searched my mind for words. “Thank you.”

“Nico, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“I know this is early in the relationship and you’re not
supposed to bring stuff up like this, but we are in a sexual relationship and I
want you to be aware of the risks. If we ever conceived a child, it could be
like me. Or not. I really don’t know. There’s still so much about my nature I
don’t know.”

“I appreciate you being honest with me. I’d wondered that
myself. But whatever it is in you that fascinates me, I’m sure I’d adore in my
child as well. Whatever abilities he or she may have.”

“You thought about us having children?”

“I thought about the possibility, yes. I thought about all
kinds of crazy things after I learned about you. Then when I came back and you
turned me away— No, I don’t want to think about those moments ever again. Now I
want to get to know you better. And since you want to get to know yourself
better, why not do it together?”

She laughed. “Good plan.”

“Let’s get out of these woods and go get a fancy hotel room
with a nice big bed. I want to spend the night holding you. And doing other
things. I can’t believe how much I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too, Nico.” She reached for my hand. “Let’s
wash the forest off us first. There’s a hotel nearby that advertises their
oversized baths big enough for two.”

“With a bottle of wine? Sounds like the most promising night
ever.”

“I can’t think of a better way for us to start.”

Lily

Nico and I didn’t sleep much that night as we took our time
making love. However, I was so blissful having spent the night wrapped in his
protective arms I didn’t feel any fatigue. Nico and I said goodbye at the hotel
that morning since we both had our cars.

“I’m going to stop by my mom’s house,” I said. “I’ll see you
back in Mass.”

“I’ll miss you,” he said. He then put his hands on both
sides of my head before giving me a long, soft kiss goodbye that would make it
impossible to forget him any time soon.

“I’m so glad to see you, dear,” my mom said. “When the full
moon came and went and I hadn’t heard from you, I started to worry. Then you
didn’t answer your cell phone and… I don’t care how old or independent you are.
I’m your mother and I’ll always worry about you.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I should have called. So much happened so
quickly and I’m afraid I didn’t think about it until I left the forest. That’s
when I usually come see you and technically I just left.”

“You’ve been in the forest since the night of the full
moon?”

I nodded.

“Why?”

“Oh, where to begin, Mom. Nico. The hunter. The shifters.
Nico again.” I put my head in my hand. “I can’t believe how much has happened
in so short a time. It’s as if my life has completely changed and I’m not the
same person I was when I drove up here earlier this week. I don’t even know if
I want to go back to the life I left behind.”

“Sit down, Lily. This sounds like a major talk. I’ll make us
some tea and you can start at the beginning.”

She went into the kitchen to put on the kettle and I tried
to sort events chronologically. She came back with a plate of cookies.

“Homemade chocolate chip.”

“Ooh, one of my favorites!”

“I know.”

I dug in with relish. She came back with two cups of tea on
a tray and sat across from me. I looked at the plate of cookies, proud of my
self-control in leaving some for the two of us to enjoy with our tea.

“So tell me what happened.”

I started at the beginning, how I took the chance and told
Nico what I was, and then continued to when we’d just reconciled.

“You got shot!” She clasped her hands around her face and
then she grabbed both of my hands. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said. “It was just a graze.” Even though I
downplayed the part about the hunter, she still freaked out. Once I reassured
her I was fine and she calmed down, she had a zillion questions about Angelo
and Katrina.

“You have to respect their privacy though, Mom. They don’t
want their presence known. You have to keep this to yourself.”

My mom laughed before she quipped, “As the mother who has
had to protect the secrets of her daughter all these years, I think I can
manage that.”

“Just making sure. I have to consider all they’ve done for
me and respect their wishes.”

“So how did you leave it with Nico?” my mom asked.

“He drove back to Massachusetts and I said I’d stop by to
see you before I drove back.”

“It’s getting late. Why don’t you stay the night and drive
back in the morning? I’ll heat up some soup and make grilled cheese
sandwiches.”

I really wanted to get back to my condo. It seemed like
weeks had gone by since I’d slept in my own bed, although it was only days. But
she was right, I could wait another day. And as a working woman who ate far too
much takeout, there were few meals I enjoyed more than one made by my mom.

“Sure. I could spend some more time with you.”

“I have some news of my own, although it’s not quite as
exciting as the events in your life the past few days.”

“Oh really?” I leaned forward. “What is it?” I picked up a
cookie and began chewing.

“I started seeing someone.”

I stopped chewing in my surprise. “You did? Awesome. Tell me
more.”

“After we spoke last time you were here, I realized I was
being a hypocrite—telling you to go out there and take a chance and not doing
it myself. I didn’t tell you the whole truth—well, not exactly. Yes, I loved
your father and thought the world of him. He was the love of my life. But his
death and his keeping secrets from me hurt me so badly. I swore I’d never open
myself up to ever feeling that pain again. Anyway, after you left, I told
myself to follow some of the advice I’d been giving you, to let go of my fear
and be more open to the possibility of a relationship. Not be so closed off and
resistant to one. So I decided to join this century and got online on one of
those dating sites. I went on a few dates with different men and had a pleasant
time, but nothing really clicked. When I met Jim—the sparks—we both knew. We
just knew it was right.”

The wistful look on my mom’s face was one I’d never seen
before when she spoke about men. It gave her a youthful glow and she appeared
to have gotten fifteen years younger. Whoever this Jim was, he was rubbing off
on my mom in a good way. “Wow, I’m so happy for you.”

“We’re taking things slowly. I mean, it’s all so new. Who
knows if it’ll go anywhere? But I’m telling you—I think there’s something
there. I’ve been dating on and off since you’ve been old enough not to need me
around as much and I have to say, this is different.”

“Tell me all about him.” I eased back into the couch and
sipped my tea. My mother’s remained untouched as she remained animated, waving
her arms as she told me about Jim.

“His name is Jim Hartwell and he grew up near Portland,
Maine. He moved to the mountains just a few years ago. He’s worked in the
newspaper industry, but since he moved here, he wanted to get outdoors more. So
he instructs at the mountains during ski seasons and works in garden centers
the rest of the year. He’s traveled all over Europe and South America and has
written a bunch of articles about it.”

“Sounds like an interesting guy.”

“I think so.” Her focus drifted off to a corner of the room.
Then she looked back at me. “If this doesn’t work out with Nico, you should
give this internet dating thing a try.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said with a laugh. “Do they have
a check box for ‘Can you shift into an animal?’”

“Hmm, I don’t remember that specific question,” she said
with a serious face then broke out into laughter. “Maybe that’s under the
Advanced Search.”

When I made it home, I called my boss even though it was a
Saturday. I apologized for being out without much of an explanation, but said
there was a personal emergency I had to deal with. She was okay about it,
asking all the appropriate questions and backing off when she asked personal
ones I chose not to answer. I was out less than a week so I still had a job.

If I still wanted it.

While in the mountains, I had time to do a lot of
soul-searching. I questioned whether this ambitious career track was the one
for me or if I should perhaps try a different life path. Maybe I should go into
consulting on my own. Be my own boss. Make my own hours. Not have to explain to
anyone when I had to go away during the full moon.

Who knows? With my newly discovered ability to change at
will, maybe I’d want to stay in the forest longer. Sell my expensive luxury
condo for something more affordable and buy a small place up in the mountains.

Next up I had to get back to Ally. She’d texted me while I
was away and I didn’t get her text message until I left the mountains.

Hey Lily, haven’t seen you this week. Are you okay?

When I called Ally back, she said, “You must have the flu or
something. It’s unlike you not to work out during the week.”

“I was caught up with work and stuff in New Hampshire. And
my mother convinced me to stay with her.” I still wasn’t ready to confide
everything
in Ally even though she was the closest person I had to a friend, besides
Nico. Baby steps.

The biggest change in my life was opening myself up to a
relationship with Nico. He agreed to take things slow and to go at my pace so
I’d be comfortable and not too pressured.

As I found out almost every time we were together, once I
saw him, it was difficult to leave. We went out to dinner Saturday night, he
ended staying at my place, and we spent the day together on Sunday. Waking up
to Nico spooning me on a Sunday morning and feeling his naked body against mine
was something I could get used to.

Besides his phenomenal lovemaking skills, I enjoyed his
company. After breakfast we put a fire on in the fireplace and read the Sunday
paper together. We spent the day hiking nearby to welcome in the arrival of
spring, witness the new buds forming on the branches and the earliest green
shoots poking up from the ground. We brought a picnic lunch and snacks to keep
us fortified.

It was with a pang of sadness that I said goodbye on Sunday
evening. But it was my call. We couldn’t rush into things too quickly.

“I know you have to play catch-up at work,” Nico said. “But
you have to eat. How about I bring over some takeout on Wednesday?”

“Uh—maybe. I have meetings all day. I might not be the best
conversationalist.”

“Okay, how about Thursday. We can go for a run, watch a
movie, whatever you like.”

“Let’s go for a run around the lake. Then get something to
eat. And maybe,” I raised an eyebrow, “we’ll shower off together.”

He smiled lasciviously. “Saves water, good for the
environment.” He touched my bottom lip before kissing me. “I’ll be thinking of
you.”

While I buried myself catching up at work and unwinding at
the gym, I realized how much I missed Nico too. Wouldn’t it be nice to see him
at the end of a workday? Like he said, a reward for a hard day’s work?

Thursday took a long time to come and it ended all too soon.
Only a few short hours together wasn’t enough. For someone who was used to
spending so much time alone, finding someone who I wanted to spend more time
with was a new experience.

After our run, we dropped the Thai takeout food on the
counter. Panting from our run and covered with sweat made us think of another
kind of hunger so we fumbled to remove our clothing to get into the shower as
quickly as possible. We spent much time lathering each other before Nico took
me up against the shower wall, an experience I thought was overrated up until
now. Perhaps it just needed the dynamics of the right person and the right
position. Nico leaned on me against the shower wall after we had both climaxed
and the water rained down upon us. We recovered in each other’s arms for so
long that the hot water ran out and then we hurried to get out of the shower
before the water turned us to icicles.

We dried off and went back to our takeout, needing to reheat
it in the microwave since it had gotten cold during our extended shower
session.

“Wow, we packed a lot of quality time into a few short
hours,” Nico said. “I’m glad you agreed to see me.”

“How about dinner tomorrow night?” I suggested.

He looked surprised, but pleased. “I’d love nothing more
than that. But I can’t. We have practice. We have a show on Saturday night at
that club Vamps. Remember that club in Cat’s Cove where we met?”

How could I forget? I nodded.

“Will you come? You can bring your friend so you have
someone to hang with.”

“I’d love to. Until Saturday.” I kissed him slowly as if
trying to imprint the feel of his lips into my memory.

When I saw Nico at Vamps Saturday night, my heart raced.

He noticed me and smiled in a way that shot thrills through
me.

He was mine. I was his. He knew my secrets. No more
deception was necessary.

He walked over to Ally and me. After saying our hellos, she
recognized someone she knew from the gym and excused herself to go say hi.

Nico said, “I’m glad you’re not playing any tricks today and
you came like you said you would.”

I furrowed my brow. “Tricks?”

“It’s April first. April Fool’s Day. The guys have been
playing tricks all day.” Then he gave me a lingering kiss. “Here’s the hello I
wanted to give you, but not in front of Ally. You look delicious.”

The long, fitted, black number with purple accents was a
good choice then. “Thanks. I’m glad you like it.”

“I doubt there’s anything I’d not like to see you in—or out
of.”

“Sweats are okay then?” I teased.

“No.” He shook his head and laughed. “No sweats, please. You
can’t hide a body like that from me.”

“All right, I promise. No sweats.” I kissed him. “Unless I’m
sick. Or feel like crap.”

“I make a mean chicken noodle soup. Recipe that dates back
to the old country.”

“You cook?”

“Sure. When I have the time.”

“How come I haven’t benefited from the experience?”

“Because I’ve wanted to spend my free time doing other
things with you besides cooking. I’ll cook dinner for us this week, okay?”

“Looks like I lucked out with the right guy.” I smiled.
“Caring. Sweet. Can cook. And hot as hell.”

“I could say the same about you.”

“Except the cooking part. Some of my attempts at
experimental cooking have ended disastrously.” I laughed. “So what’s going on
here tonight?”

Nico got an excited glint in his eye as he spoke. “It’s
going to be a great night, Lily. A few weeks ago, I talked to the owner of the
club about VC coming back. Some guy named Tristan Stone.”

“Is he super tall?” I asked. “Dark, longish hair?”

“Yeah, you know him?”

“No. The first time I was here I overheard someone say he is
the owner.”

“Anyway, I asked if we could come back.” Nico was waving his
arms around animatedly as he retold the story. “Said we thought the club and
crowd were great and we’d love to play our new song for the first time here.”

“I’m guessing he agreed.”

“Yes. He was actually quite cool about it. Said how VC is exactly
the type of live music he’d been working on bringing into the club.” Nico
slapped one hand on the other as he said “exactly” and I tried not to giggle
over his enthusiasm. “How the crowd
loved
us. How his girlfriend and her
best friend are
huge fans
and they all had a great night the last time
we played. How cool is that, Lily?”