Pursued by a Werewolf (Mystic Isle, Book 4) by Selena Blake Page B

would I want to?
    Ceara sighed. You're full of it Avery. Then. Did I get that right?
    Avery could not help but smile. Her friend had made great strides to open up and get over her incredibly sheltered upbringing. Ceara’s parents hadn’t believed in friends or life outside the walls of their home. It had taken them so long to even conceive that they’d smothered poor Ceara in a hope to protect her. Avery couldn't imagine it.
    She hadn't had a lot of time for friends once she'd started training for the Olympics. But still, she'd been friendly with her team mates. And there were always people around. Trainers. Physical therapists. Assistants. Masseuses. Camera crews. Her parents.
    What he does with that bimbo is no concern of mine.
    Ceara gave Avery a look of disbelief and censure. Okay, so the waitress was just playing a part. All of the wait staff on Mystic Isle played up their assets to keep the customers happy. But that didn’t mean she had to like it.
    She blew out a sigh. Hunter stretched an arm along the back of the booth, spanning the width of her shoulders and she could feel the heat emanating from his big body. She desperately wanted to lean closer and soak in his warmth.
    “Everything all right?” he whispered, leaning in close.
    It wasn’t like her to get bent out of shape or snippy about anything. She liked to think of herself as a sensible, roll with the punches sort of gal. Fun loving but rule following. Years of competition and relentless training had left her rigid so these days she tried not to take herself too seriously.
    But she had proof staring her in the face. She’d been jealous twice in one day.
    She glanced to her right, meeting his gaze. His beautiful eyes searched her face, concerned and curious. He was so handsome with that lock of hair tumbling across his forehead. She lifted her hand and brushed it aside.
    “I’m fine.”
    He stared down at her lips.
    “You frown when you’re fine?” he whispered, meeting her gaze again.
    “Hunter…”
    He stayed silent. Waiting.
    As much as she wanted to curl up in his arms and take advantage of the promise in his eyes, she couldn’t risk their friendship. Or his heart. “Nothing’s changed. I can’t be a forever kind of girl.”
    “Did I ask you to be?” he whispered back.
    “No, but—”
    “But?”
    “You want forever. I know you do. You deserve someone who can—” She sighed, choosing her words carefully. “Someone who wants that too. You deserve that.”
    “I’m a big boy, Avery. I can handle it.”
    “I don’t want to hurt you.”
    “You won’t,” he promised softly. “All I want right now is to spend time with my friend.”
    Heaven help her, so did she.
    “Me too,” she whispered. The truth was like a cleansing balm, providing clarity to her jumbled emotions.
    He studied her for several more seconds before turning his attention back to his brother. The look in his eyes had been hot but reassuring.
    The lure to kiss him was almost more than she could stand. Staring at his lips, so close, so kissable certainly didn’t help.
    “Speak of the demon… and his bride to be,” Ceara said.
    Avery glanced up to see Izzy, the pint sized pixie and her lover stride through the doors of Club Daylight. She smiled up at the couple, thankful that they’d saved her from making a scene with Hunter. Izzy spotted them and she gave a little wave. Despite her former cool and calm personality, Shade had managed to warm her up.
    It was no secret Ceara wasn’t terribly comfortable around demons. Avery wouldn’t be either if her parents had been killed by a rogue demon, but Shade wasn’t like the man who’d killed Ceara’s mom and dad in a crazy rage.
    He was sweet and doting. A practical joker, typical of his kind. And he was crazy lucky. Avery had stopped challenging him to any kind of game.
    She was so proud of the progress both Ceara and Izzy had made, overcoming their past and fears. The last few times she'd seen Izzy, the little