Marisa Chenery - A Werewolf at the Falls

To start up a conversation, Jorja asked, “Where are you two from?” She glanced at Kian. “You never told me.”

He chuckled. “I guess I didn’t. We were too busy doing other things.”

Jorja felt her cheeks warm as she shot a look over at Soren who chuckled and shook his head.

“Kian,” Soren said, “I think you just embarrassed the hell out of Jorja. Just a little bit too much information, if you know what I mean. You’re one of my best friends, but really, dude, I don’t need to hear about your sex life.”

Kian flipped Soren off, then turned his head toward her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Both Soren and I live in Toronto. We came to the casino for a weekend of gambling.”

Jorja nodded. If they were only here for the weekend, that meant Kian would be going back to Toronto the next day. And the check-out time at the hotel was eleven in the morning. So far the topic of what would happen between them when that time arrived hadn’t come up.

“I guess you both have jobs you have to get back to,” she said, not really knowing how else to respond.

Soren snorted. “No. The best way to describe Kian and me is the idle rich. We play a bit in the stock market, but other than that, we pretty much do whatever we want.”

Considering both men were staying in some of the pricier rooms in the resort, and the way they’d tipped the night before, she figured they had some money. She hadn’t figured on Kian being that rich, though.

“So you’re kind of well to-do, huh? Then I suppose both of you live in mansions somewhere in the wealthy part of downtown Toronto.”

Kian smirked. “Soren does, with his parents. I own a penthouse apartment and live on my own.”

Soren scowled at Kian. “What my friend over there left out is he lived in a mansion with his parents as well up until six months ago. And his penthouse is only a short drive to his parents’ place. And if I remember correctly, Kian also brings his laundry home and eats there at least twice a week.”

Jorja chuckled. “Hey, if I could get someone else to do my laundry and cook me some meals, I’d be all for it.”

Kian put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close against his side. He kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”

The topic of conversation changed to trivial things about the Falls as they stopped from time to time to look at them. Jorja enjoyed both men’s company. She decided to push away the thought of Kian leaving the next day and enjoy what time she had left with him. If what they had started here went past the weekend, she was more than willing to give a long-distance relationship a try. And if Kian decided the weekend was enough for him, she’d let him walk out of her life. It would hurt, since she had already started to fall for him, but begging him to give her something more would only belittle her. And that was not the last impression she wanted Kian to have of her.

After their view of the Falls, they returned to the resort. As promised, Kian allowed Soren to drag Jorja and him to the casino. Soren went off to the blackjack table while he and Jorja went to play the slot machines. Instead of alcohol they both drank pop.

At one point the cocktail waitress, who had served them during the day yesterday, stopped to chat with Jorja. The woman, who was named Connie, seemed thrilled to see Jorja with him. Before she left, she leaned in to his mate and whispered in her ear. With his acute werewolf hearing, Kian had no problem picking up what Connie said. The woman told his mate it was about time she’d found a man, and for her to hold onto him tight, not let him slip through her fingers. Kian had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop from smiling like an idiot, especially when Jorja told Connie not to worry, that he would be a permanent fixture in her life from here on out.

As it was, he was already head over heels in love with his mate. Spending the day with her, getting to know her better, just cemented his feelings. For his kind, love at first sight was pretty much the norm. A male’s mating urge wouldn’t be set off if there weren’t a chance of the male and female falling almost instantly in love. He had to believe Jorja felt as strongly for him as he did for her, but her being mortal, there was no guarantee.

Jorja bounced in her chair and let out a little shout of, “I won” as the slot machine she played chimed away and spit out some quarters. It wasn’t much, but his mate seemed thrilled with it all the same. He smiled as he watched her scoop up her winnings and put the money in the large plastic cup she held.

He pulled out his cell phone and checked the time. “How about we go get some dinner? Then once we’re done I can take you to your apartment, so you can get ready for work.”

Jorja nodded. “Sure. But you know I do have my car here. I can drive myself to my place. You don’t have to come with me. I don’t live all that far from the resort. I’ll change and be back before you know it.”

“I insist on taking you,” he said. Kian leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. “Let’s just say I don’t want to miss out on spending any time with you.” He hoped she’d accept that and not push to go on her own. But to his relief, in the end, she nodded.

“Okay,” she said with a chuckle. “If you insist. Where do you want to eat? And we should probably ask Soren if he wants to join us.”

“Do you like Chinese? I thought of trying the buffet at the Golden Lotus here in the hotel. And sure we can ask Soren if he wants to eat with us.”

“The Golden Lotus is really good. They serve real authentic Chinese food. It’s one of my favorite places to eat.”

“Then let’s go collect Soren.”

They managed to pry Soren away from the blackjack table and they had a good meal at the restaurant. Once they finished eating, Kian led Jorja outside to the hotel’s parking lot while Soren went back to the gaming tables.

He led her to his red Cadillac CTS sedan and opened the front passenger door for her. He came around the back of the car and got into the driver’s side.

“Nice car,” Jorja said as she ran her hands over the black leather seating.

“Thanks. You’ll have to give me directions to your place.”

As Jorja had said, her apartment wasn’t that long of a drive from the resort. She directed him to park in her empty space behind the small duplex. Kian turned off the car, expecting her to get out, only to find her making no move to open the door.

“What’s the matter, Jorja?”

“I think maybe it would be better if you wait out here.”

“Why?”

She swallowed. “My apartment isn’t exactly as nice as what you’d be used to.”

“So?”

“So maybe you’d be more comfortable waiting out in the car.”

He shook his head. In way of an answer, Kian got out and came around to her side. He opened her door and held out his hand. “I’m not waiting out here for you. And I don’t care what your apartment is like. As long as you’re in it, that’s all that matters.”

Jorja placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her out. He used the remote to lock the car as they walked toward the back door of the building. He followed her up the stairs and into her apartment. Her place was small, about a third the size of his penthouse, but it was clean. Breathing in, he smelled her scent. As he’d said to Jorja, he didn’t care where she lived, that this was hers made it a place he’d be more than happy to spend time in.

“Make yourself at home,” she said. “It won’t take me long to change.”

Before she could walk away, Kian pulled Jorja into his arms and took her lips in a hungry kiss. She clung to him, kissing him back passionately. His cock throbbed, but he did nothing further than take her lips.