could smell a woman’s lust. She could see his instincts taking over. At that moment, her need for him was stronger than it had ever been - and he could sense it.
“I’ll be back,” he told her, before quickly leaving their table.
* * *
In the men’s room, Anton splashed cold water on his face. It helped, but what he really needed was an ice cold shower. He’d picked up on the scent of her sex. Then she’d looked at him with those smoldering golden eyes - her lips parted and inviting him to taste them.
It had been too much and his strength was waning. This time she’d nearly trigger a changing. The wolf spirit had tried to take control. If that happened, she’d be in trouble. Although she was from Outerlands , he seriously doubted that she’d ever dealt with the lusts of a male Sungmanitu or Vilka . She probably had no idea what she was in for.
Each time he touched her - kissed her, it became that much harder to control. He wanted to taste that sweet flesh more than he’d ever wanted anything. But even if he took what he wanted from her - and gave her what she wanted - what then? She was promised to another. There was the Zen. He had made a vow never to marry, and she deserved to be more than just his bed partner.
But there was always the reason that he’d joined the Zen in the first place. He never wanted to get close to a woman - never wanted to fall in love. He was a cursed man, and his love was like a death sentence.
Anton closed his eyes. The agony of wanting her, but knowing it could never happen, was too much to endure. He would have to tell her why. But would she believe him, or think he was just putting her off?
He could have sex as much as he wanted, but he could never love her. It was his curse to bear, not hers.
* * *
Summer was almost to the point where she was getting ready to go look for Anton, when she saw him coming toward the table.
“Where’s your friends?” he asked.
Summer looked up at him and smiled sweetly. “Penny went home. She has to get up early tomorrow. Jordan was meeting some friends up at Lake Tahoe. He asked if we wanted to come, but I didn’t think you would.”
“Are you ready to go?” Anton was obviously in a hurry to get out of there.
Summer could sense that he’d had a shift in attitude. He seemed way too anxious to end their evening. She wasn’t about to give in yet.
“Why don’t we take a walk and check out Reno? I don’t have any classes tomorrow, so I don’t have to get up early … unless you do?”
Anton eyed her suspiciously. He was sharp and Summer didn’t doubt that he knew exactly what she was up to.
“Summer … we have to talk.”
She shook her head. “We’ll talk later. Let’s go have some fun right now.”
There was no way she was going to let any negativity ruin this night. There was time enough for that later. Tonight she had him all to herself, and she intended to take full advantage of that.
Summer slid out of the other side of the booth and grabbed his hand. “I know what I want to do,” she told him.
“What?” he asked, letting her pull him up.
“Let’s go get our pictures taken.”
Summer had to laugh at the look of shock on his face.
“They’re old western pictures and it’s fun. There’s a place just down the street,” she explained.
They made their way outside onto Virginia Street - Reno’s main strip, and where most of the casinos were located. The night was warm, with a hint of a breeze in the air. Summer still had a hold of his hand, and she threaded her fingers through his. She was surprised that he didn’t pull away.
The silence between them was a comfortable silence. Summer was content to be close to him, and enjoy the feel of his hand in hers. After they walked about two blocks, they came to the portrait studio.
Fran’s Images of the Old West
The glass display in front of the studio was filled with photos of people dressed in 19th century clothing.
There was no one in the studio except for
“I’ll be back,” he told her, before quickly leaving their table.
* * *
In the men’s room, Anton splashed cold water on his face. It helped, but what he really needed was an ice cold shower. He’d picked up on the scent of her sex. Then she’d looked at him with those smoldering golden eyes - her lips parted and inviting him to taste them.
It had been too much and his strength was waning. This time she’d nearly trigger a changing. The wolf spirit had tried to take control. If that happened, she’d be in trouble. Although she was from Outerlands , he seriously doubted that she’d ever dealt with the lusts of a male Sungmanitu or Vilka . She probably had no idea what she was in for.
Each time he touched her - kissed her, it became that much harder to control. He wanted to taste that sweet flesh more than he’d ever wanted anything. But even if he took what he wanted from her - and gave her what she wanted - what then? She was promised to another. There was the Zen. He had made a vow never to marry, and she deserved to be more than just his bed partner.
But there was always the reason that he’d joined the Zen in the first place. He never wanted to get close to a woman - never wanted to fall in love. He was a cursed man, and his love was like a death sentence.
Anton closed his eyes. The agony of wanting her, but knowing it could never happen, was too much to endure. He would have to tell her why. But would she believe him, or think he was just putting her off?
He could have sex as much as he wanted, but he could never love her. It was his curse to bear, not hers.
* * *
Summer was almost to the point where she was getting ready to go look for Anton, when she saw him coming toward the table.
“Where’s your friends?” he asked.
Summer looked up at him and smiled sweetly. “Penny went home. She has to get up early tomorrow. Jordan was meeting some friends up at Lake Tahoe. He asked if we wanted to come, but I didn’t think you would.”
“Are you ready to go?” Anton was obviously in a hurry to get out of there.
Summer could sense that he’d had a shift in attitude. He seemed way too anxious to end their evening. She wasn’t about to give in yet.
“Why don’t we take a walk and check out Reno? I don’t have any classes tomorrow, so I don’t have to get up early … unless you do?”
Anton eyed her suspiciously. He was sharp and Summer didn’t doubt that he knew exactly what she was up to.
“Summer … we have to talk.”
She shook her head. “We’ll talk later. Let’s go have some fun right now.”
There was no way she was going to let any negativity ruin this night. There was time enough for that later. Tonight she had him all to herself, and she intended to take full advantage of that.
Summer slid out of the other side of the booth and grabbed his hand. “I know what I want to do,” she told him.
“What?” he asked, letting her pull him up.
“Let’s go get our pictures taken.”
Summer had to laugh at the look of shock on his face.
“They’re old western pictures and it’s fun. There’s a place just down the street,” she explained.
They made their way outside onto Virginia Street - Reno’s main strip, and where most of the casinos were located. The night was warm, with a hint of a breeze in the air. Summer still had a hold of his hand, and she threaded her fingers through his. She was surprised that he didn’t pull away.
The silence between them was a comfortable silence. Summer was content to be close to him, and enjoy the feel of his hand in hers. After they walked about two blocks, they came to the portrait studio.
Fran’s Images of the Old West
The glass display in front of the studio was filled with photos of people dressed in 19th century clothing.
There was no one in the studio except for
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