Awaiting Fate by J. L. Sheppard Page A

her neck and chest. “…embarrassed we’re discussing it.”
    Running his hand through his blond hair, he said, “I’m sorry I’m ruining this. It’s my fault. I can’t seem to do anything right—”
    “Stop!” she yelled, exasperated with his apologies. “I’m a werewolf. I can handle myself! I didn’t stop you because it felt good. You make me…”
    She trailed off again, then cringed when she realized what she’d admitted. Turning away from him, she was sure her face was as red as a tomato.
    What did it matter? Why should she care if he saw her blush? He was an empath and could feel how badly she wanted him. And still, she felt embarrassed. No, it was more like humiliated because he knew how she felt and he didn’t feel the same, but also because of her own inexperience.
    “Liv,” he said, closing the distance between them. Only a foot away, he asked, “Can I hold you?”
    Yes, please, hold me forever, she thought then nodded. She was digging her own grave but at the moment she couldn’t care less. She wanted, no, she needed him to hold her, to comfort her. As reckless and foolish as it was, she wanted to pretend, just for a little while, what she felt wasn’t one-sided.
    He slowly closed the remaining distance between them, grabbed her hand and turned her then wrapped one arm around her back and cupped the back of her head with the other, pressing her cheek firmly against his chest.
    It felt so good, the heat of his body against hers; she closed her eyes tightly and sighed.
    He exhaled. “My behavior today has been…I have no excuse. I promise tomorrow will be better.”
    Today was great. Them together, alone with no other immortals, she’d almost felt like they were a real couple. At times, her heart had chanted they were.
    She lifted her head to stare in his eyes. “I had fun today.”
    Chuckling humorlessly, he whispered, “You’re just saying that to make me feel better because you’re special like that.”
    He was doing it again, making her love him even more. She swallowed. “No, I’m not. I hadn’t left this house in days before you came. Thank you for dinner and drinks.”
    It was the truth. Regardless of her dilemma, Cain made everything worthwhile. She loved him; there was no changing it and little use in denying it. She hadn’t tried to fall in love with him, but it happened. She couldn’t control her feelings for him any more than she could control his. No way around it, so in that moment, she decided to accept what he offered, friendship, without wallowing in misery. She’d have plenty of time to think of how unfair life was when he left. For now, she wanted to take advantage.
    “Let’s watch a movie,” she said.
    He kissed the top of her forehead, the heat of his lips making her shiver. “You are an amazing woman. No man I know is worth you,” he whispered, then drew his finger down her cheek. Pulling her against his chest until her cheek lay flat against him, he rested his chin on the top of her head and said, “Meae deliciae, meus sodalis.”
    The words wove themselves around her in a soft caress like a revelation. Still, she had no knowledge of their meaning. She knew it was Latin, the native tongue of demons, and she didn’t care to ask because their meaning didn’t matter. At the moment, she was content with believing he’d said something that had the power to change both their lives forever.
    ****
    Well past one a.m., the movie they’d watched ended. With Olivia draped across his chest fast asleep, Cain couldn’t summon the strength to move.
    Shortly after they’d turned on the movie, he heard the familiar sound of her slow and even breaths. She’d fallen asleep. Not a moment later, he pulled her against him, held her as she slept. Now, he sat as still as he could, admiring her in sleep as he’d done many times before, unbeknownst to her.
    He’d done it so often he’d lost count. The first time he’d done it, he hadn’t planned it. His fierce craving