Wicked Cravings (The Phoenix Pack Series

Chapter TWENTY

Opening her eyes the next morning, Jaime found Dante wide-awake and staring at her. The fatigue on his face told her something she already knew through their bond—he hadn’t fallen back asleep after he brought her to their room. All night he’d watched her sleep, frightened that if he closed his eyes, she’d be back in her wolf form before he could do anything to stop it. Softly, she ran the tips of her fingers across his jaw. “You needed the sleep as much as I did.” His voice came out gruff. “Don’t care. I wanted to look at you. I’ve missed looking at you.

And I’m not moving from right here unless I absolutely have to.” She gasped when he flexed his cock inside her. After taking her against the wall last night, he hadn’t pulled out of her. Instead, he’d lain down in bed, still joined with her, which had suited Jaime just fine. Then—absolutely exhausted—she’d gone straight to sleep like she’d been dealt a blow to the head.

“You don’t have to worry so much,” she told him. “My wolf…She’s not healed, but she thinks of you as safe, as ‘home.’ The bond…she’s letting it center her now. Before, she was content with it, but she wouldn’t relax into it. I think if anything can heal her, it’s the bond, our bond.” That very bond allowed Dante to know these things were true. After having her wolf distrust him for so long, it was the biggest relief to know that she now regarded him as safe. “It’s weird to think that just a little time around a baby could change everything.” Jaime shook her head. “No. It started when you rejected Bitch Face. We’ll be having a separate conversation about her in a minute, by the way. My wolf saw it as a demonstration of loyalty. When you slung Bitch Face out of the room, you also slung out Trey. I know it was because they were suggesting you put me out of my misery—I’m not feeling good about Trey right now. But what my wolf saw was you chasing away two people who she regarded as threats to her. The fact that you protected her went a long way. You might have realized that if you hadn’t walked out in a huff.” He ran a hand over her hair, wanting, no, needing to touch her. He still couldn’t quite believe she was back. “I just needed to have a minute somewhere alone to pretend that none of it was happening.”

She kissed him lightly. “I know. She was intending to follow your scent and find you, but then she scented Kye. It’s hard to explain…his scent was like a calling for my wolf. It’s comforting and inviting. When I first held Kye, my wolf felt drawn to him, but I hadn’t wondered about it. Anyway, when you protected her from Trey a second time while we were in his room, she again saw it as a demonstration of loyalty. She saw you as someone who would protect her. If it hadn’t have been for any of that, no amount of time around Kye would have made her very receptive to you right then.

Kye…He oozes safety. At that moment, she felt safe, and it meant that she wasn’t defensive or feeling too threatened by everyone else to be open to you.”

He joined his forehead to hers, tightening an arm around her. “I was so scared that you wouldn’t come back.”

“So was I. Thank you for not giving up on me or my wolf.”

“I would never have given up on either of you. Don’t be too pissed with Trey. What he suggested might have seemed cold, but Trey’s a guy who functions on logic. You’re one of his wolves, he felt some of your pain, and he could relate to what was happening to you. Logic told him that you were suffering and that it was fairer to you to put that to an end.” She huffed, though she did see his point. She never used to huff. Greta must be rubbing off on her—a scary thought. “Whatfreakingever.”

“You’ll be pleased to know that Laurie’s gone.”

Both Jaime and her wolf growled. “What? I can’t believe you let her leave! She was the one who—”

“Let your wolf out of the crate,” he finished, stroking her cheekbone with his thumb. “We know. Dominic smelled her scent on the key and then caught her trying to sneak out in the middle of the night with Leif, so she’d most likely heard you were alive and calming. There was no way she was going anywhere. Trick and Ryan found out from one of Glory’s relatives who we kept captive that Laurie had conspired with them. Apparently, when Taryn and Trey confronted her about everything, she eventually admitted it, hoping it would lighten her punishment. Did you know she was also the one who hired the lone wolf?”

Jaime nodded. “What punishment was decided?”

“I think it would have been death if it wasn’t for Leif. The poor kid’s already lost one parent.”

“Blane’s dead?”

“No. But he was involved in a bar fight with a human, so he was dealt with by human laws.

He’s in a maximum-security prison, where he’ll stay for a very long time. Laurie’s parents spoke with Trey over the phone. They asked if he’d accept her punishment as being isolated to a cabin on the border of their territory, where she’ll be away from her pack but Leif can still visit. It gives her the opportunity to try to earn a place in her pack in a few years, but she’ll forever be confined to pack territory.”

Jaime winced. Being confined was one of the worst punishments that any shifter could have.

“Who’ll be caring for Leif?”

“His grandparents. They’re good people, and he loves them. They’ll give him the stability that his parents could never have given him. From what I understand, he more or less lived with them anyway. They’ve got no problem with me staying in contact with him.” That was good news. “I really need to take a bath.” When she felt his arm contract around her, she rolled her eyes. “I’ll only be in the next room.”

“I know. But I don’t want to let you go yet.”

“I know. But I desperately need one, and then I need food.” He nipped at her mouth. “I’ll ask Grace to bring some breakfast for us.”

“Why? We can go to breakfast with everyone else.”

“I don’t want to share you with everyone yet.”

That made her smile. “I have to at least see Gabe. He’ll be a mess until he knows I’m okay.” Dante couldn’t deny that. He’d received several text messages from her brother in the past hour—among many more from others within the pack, all of which he’d ignored. He would bet that the only reason Gabe hadn’t barged in was that he knew his sister needed rest. “Fine.” Smiling, she kissed him. “Thank you.”

“But can we do something about this first?” He flexed his cock inside her again, grinning wickedly at her loud moan.

“Oh yes, we certainly can.” At that moment, there was a knock at the door. “Or not.”

“Who is it?”

“I just need a quick word,” called Trey. “Of course if you’d have just answered your phone, I wouldn’t have had to come here.”

Frustrated in every sense of the word, Dante carefully pulled out of Jaime, dabbing a kiss on her mouth. Once he’d buttoned up his fly, he opened the door. “What?” he griped.

Trey arched a brow at his tone, but his expression was amused. “I didn’t want to interrupt,” he said quietly. “I just thought you and Jaime should know something.” The way Trey’s expression quickly became serious made Dante’s hackles rise. He stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind him. “What is it?”

“Shaya’s leaving in an hour.”

“Leaving?”

“You must have seen this coming.”

Yes, he had, and so had Jaime. It didn’t mean this would be any easier for either of them, particularly Jaime, as she had grown quite close to Shaya.

“Taryn thought you and Jaime might want to stay in your room all day doing that reconnecting thing. I wanted to tell you about Shaya so that you at least left the room to say good-bye to her. Plus, I figured Jaime would do better with the news if she had prior warning.”

“Thanks. I’ll see you soon.” When he reentered his room, he saw that his mate was gone from the bed. He found her in the en-suite bathroom, lying in a bath that wasn’t even a quarter of the way full. Approaching with a smile on his face, he asked, “You couldn’t wait until there was some water in it?”

No, thought Jaime, she couldn’t, because then he would have seen the tattoo that she’d had done as a surprise. He’d been so distracted by their reunion that he hadn’t noticed yet. “Shh. I’m trying to relax.” When he squatted and dipped his hands into the shallow water, skimming them over her legs, she guessed, “You’re not going to leave the room, are you?” Nope, not at all. Maybe it was unreasonable, but Dante didn’t want to be away from her. He’d only just got her back, and the fear of losing her was still fresh in his system. Feeling her skin against his and smelling the unique smell of their combined scents were the only things keeping his anxiety at bay. He couldn’t let her out of his sight yet. Didn’t want to.

“So what did Trey want?”

He breezed his thumb over that mouth he loved. “I’m sorry, baby, but Shaya’s leaving today.” It had only been a matter of time, hadn’t it? “When?”

“In an hour.”

“Okay, I’ll make this bath a quick one. Could you go get me some clothes and lay them on the bed for me?”

“I’d rather wash you,” he said with what he knew was a devilish smile.

“So would I, but then we wouldn’t get out of here for a while.”

“True.” Still, even leaving her to go to another room was hard.

“I’ll be fine.”

“I believe you. I just don’t want to be away from you. I want to be able to see you and touch you and smell you. I’ve missed you.”

There was that talented mouth again. “And I’ve missed you.” Jaime moaned when he mashed his lips with hers, knotting a wet hand in her hair. The kiss was slow, wet, and almost like liquid. “I promise I’ll be quick.”

Getting dressed in front of Dante without him noticing the tattoo had been a lot easier than Jaime had anticipated. He’d been so distracted staring at her breasts that her lower back hadn’t held any appeal to him. Once in her black denim jeans and red cashmere sweater, Jaime dragged a brush through her wet sable hair and tied it up into a ponytail. Then, with his arm curled around her, they proceeded through the tunnels toward the kitchen.

Occasionally he’d kiss her hair or temple, driven by a need to keep touching her. Jaime could feel the strength of that need through their bond, and tears stung her eyes as she once again remembered him saying that he loved her. Sure, it could have been just one of those things people say in desperate moments, but Jaime would prefer to believe that it was true. In any case, she was resolved that she would give him those words back later today. After the way he hadn’t given up on her or her wolf, he had earned them. It was selfish to hold them back any longer.

Just as Dante had expected, no sooner had they entered the kitchen than Shaya was wrapped around his mate like a clinging vine. Dante released several impatient sighs as each of the pack—

other than Greta, who was holding Kye—hugged Jaime and told her how glad they were that she was fine.

Dominic’s hug was extra tight. “We missed you around here.” He studied her face and sighed, smiling. “You’re so beautiful you’ve made me forget my line, but I was thinking—”

“Dominic,” bit out Dante, shaking his head.

The pervert’s shoulders slumped. He smiled again at Jaime. “I know, I know: lines are for people who are sad and pathetic. Let’s just f*ck.” Dante whacked him over the head, but Dominic just laughed.

“Can’t breathe,” rasped Jaime as her brother practically folded his body around her.

“Sorry,” said Gabe, but he squeezed her even tighter. “You have no idea how worried I was.

My wolf was going insane because your wolf wouldn’t respond to him.” He pulled back and scrutinized her face. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s not healed, but she’s healing. She’s fully accepted Dante and the bond, and it’s anchoring her.”

“Just like I said it would,” Dante chipped in before he took Jaime’s hand in his in a possessive hold and pulled her to him. “Okay, okay, you’ve all had your moments with her.” As he’d told her, he didn’t want to have to share her yet.

Jaime rolled her eyes affectionately at her mate’s behavior and allowed him to lead her to the table. To her delight, Shaya sat at her other side. “I wish you didn’t have to go.” The words were so heavy with emotion that they came out in a whisper.

Shaya smiled; it was sad, but there was no hint that she was at all torn about her decision. “I needed to stay long enough to know you were okay. But now…”

“Where are you going to go?”

“Don’t worry about me. I know exactly where I’m going, and I’ll be fine.”

“You have to keep in touch.”

“I will. You guys definitely have to come visit me—slyly if it turns out that Nick doesn’t react too well to not knowing where I am anymore. If he does explode over this, don’t let him intimidate anyone into telling him where I am. He can’t know. He can’t find out, Jaime.” Jaime gripped her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I promise you, he won’t. I understand why you feel you need to go. But if something happens, Shaya, if you need any kind of help, you call me. Okay?”

“I’ve already made her promise to come to us if she needs anything,” said Taryn, giving Shaya a pointed look that said she was holding her to that promise.

Shaya raised her hands in surrender. “I will, I swear.” Turning back to Jaime, she squeezed her shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I can’t believe baby Kye’s a healer.” Greta, who had obviously been eavesdropping, huffed. Her scowl was solely for Jaime. “If you think you’re going to use my great-grandson as some sort of safety blanket, you’re wrong.”

“Greta, could you not go hatch somewhere else?” Jaime gestured to her plate. “I’m trying to eat here.”

“I see you’ve still got that bad attitude.”

“It’s obviously not that bad or you’d be holding in all that hot air. I’ll work on it.” Although Shaya’s leaving hung over everybody’s head, breakfast was an unusually cheery event. That cheeriness swiftly disappeared when everyone was gathered in the parking lot, saying their good-byes to the bubbly redhead. Taryn said her good-bye last, and honestly it was like watching the end of E.T. —there was no parting the two friends as they stood hugging one another.

“I’m really going to miss that girl,” Jaime said to Dante as they watched Shaya drive off.

“Nick will be utterly pissed, won’t he?”

Pulling her even closer to him with the arm that he had locked around her, Dante nodded. “He won’t let it go when he finds out she’s gone. He’ll track her down as best he can. Luckily, she has Ryan, Trick, and Marcus working on erasing her trail.”

Setting aside her concerns for Shaya, Jaime gave her mate a mischievous smile. “Think you can track me?” She was gone before he could respond.

Figuring it was only fair, Dante gave his mate enough time to get into the forest before racing after her. Excitement, anticipation, and amusement swirled around inside him. Only yesterday he had been nearing a state of depression, tired and exasperated and faced with the frightening prospect that he might never get to hold his mate again. Now here she was playing with him, using every single trick and technique he taught her to evade capture. He doubted that there was anyone who appreciated what he had more than Dante did at that moment. Doubted that—

Motherf*cker. His peripheral vision had warned him of the movement coming from his right-hand side, but it hadn’t warned him fast enough. He was now flat on his back with a hot female straddling him. Not that he was at all complaining. He slid his hands up her thighs to shape her waist.

“I taught you too well.”

Smiling smugly, Jaime bunched up his T-shirt in her hands. “I want this off.” He arched a brow. “Oh, you do?”

“Oh, I do.”

He had no problem with that. Springing upward so that he was sitting upright, Dante allowed her to slide the T-shirt over his head. Then his mouth was on hers, urging her into him, as he slid a hand into her hair and gently tugged off the tie holding it up. Long sable hair that smelled of vanilla tumbled down, sweeping over both their shoulders and down her back. He fisted his hands in it—

something he’d missed over the past month. He crushed her body to him, growling at the feel of her pebbled nipples stabbing into his chest through her sweater. He loved the way she fit him just right. It drove home that this female had been made especially for him, was all his in every way.

“Lie back.”

He gave her order a mock frown. “You didn’t say please, baby.”

“Why would I, Popeye?” When she pressed a hand against his chest, he allowed her to push him to his back. The man really did have an amazing body. A body that she’d missed and intended to bite all over. Other than her claiming mark, all her previous brands had healed. That would never do.

Leaning over him, Jaime brushed her nose under the line of his jaw. His scent—a mix of his and hers—swam into her system, tickling her senses, comforting her and arousing her. When she bit down on his neck, he growled, but it wasn’t a sound of complaint. He tangled a hand in her hair and pressed her closer to him. Taking the hint, she bit harder and sucked. He growled his encouragement.

She kissed, licked, and bit her way along and down his chest, running her tongue between the grooves of his abs and scoring her nails down his sides. With her touch, teeth, and claws, she marked her mate over and over.

When she came to the waistband of his jeans, Jaime tugged them open and smiled at the long, hard cock that sprang out. How could she not? Holding Dante’s heated gaze, she licked him from base to tip, sweeping up the bead of precome there. She bit his inner thigh hard, replacing a mark that had once been there, and smiled at the way his cock twitched. Then she took him into her mouth.

“Christ,” rasped Dante, knotting both hands in her hair. Just the sight of his mate with his cock in her mouth was enough to make him want to come. He didn’t though. He planned to come inside her, to fill her up with his cock and come, marking and claiming her all over again.

“Suck me deep, Jaime.” He growled when she swallowed him whole. “F*ck, baby, I love it when you do that.” Her cheeks hollowed as she sucked hard, rubbing her tongue along the underside each time. The feel of her hair over his thighs only added to the sensations. But feeling that she was enjoying doing this for him, enjoying tasting him and pleasuring him…not much could beat that. He tugged on her hair to lift her head. “I want to come inside you.” Jaime gave him one last lick before standing. As Dante, who was still lying down, tugged off her boots, she unsnapped the fly of her jeans and shoved them and her panties down to her ankles.

Dante helped her step out of them and threw them aside as she removed her sweater and bra and tossed them to join her other clothes. Jaime quickly got to her knees above his cock, letting the head dance between her folds. Suddenly Dante was again sitting upright, biting hard into her shoulder as he sank two fingers inside her.

“You’re already wet for me.” He curled his tongue around her nipple, suckling and nibbling.

Slowly he f*cked her with his fingers as he scattered kisses and bites from breast to breast. When she was moaning and squirming restlessly on his hand, he replaced his fingers with the head of his cock.

“I want inside that p-ssy, Jaime.” With those words, he pulled her down forcefully on him, making sure she took every last inch.

Jaime cried out and arched her back at the sudden sensation of being stuffed and stretched.

That first deep penetration always hurt, but it hurt in the best way. She’d missed it.

Dante lay back again, loving the picture she made, naked on his dick with her lips parted, her hair tousled, and her eyes drowsy and heavy-lidded. “F*ck yourself on me, Jaime.” That was fine with her. Gazes locked, bodies joined, Jaime repeatedly slammed herself down on him just as he raised his hips to thrust upward. His fingers dug into her hips, claws drawing blood and marking. She dug her own claws into his shoulders as she rode him hard, knowing he loved it.

When he suddenly tightened his hold on her and held her still on his cock, she growled in complaint.

“Tell me that’s my p-ssy.”

She might have snorted at the possessive demand if she couldn’t sense the fear, anxiety, and insecurities still lurking in his mind. He needed to feel that she was irrevocably his, that she was going absolutely nowhere, and that she accepted every part of him—even the controlling and possessive streaks. “It’s yours.”

“Good girl.” He bucked his hips, ramming his cock into her once. “Tell me that you’re not going to leave me again.”

“I won’t leave.”

Again he rammed into her rewardingly. “Have you missed this?” She nodded, but when he went to thrust up into her again, she shook her head. “Wait, let me up.”

His hands flexed possessively on her hips. “No.”

“Let me up. I have a surprise for you.”

Intrigued, he felt his lips curve into a smile. “A surprise, huh? Okay, go get it.” He expected her to dash to where her clothes lay and take something out of one of her pockets. Instead, she simply got to her feet and turned. And that was when he saw it. Stunned and amazed, he drew in a sharp breath. Just above the small of her back was a miniature but detailed phoenix with its wings outstretched. Across the wings and body in fancy, bold, italic ink was his name.

“It was supposed to be a surprise for the night of our mating ceremony, but we kind of missed that. I hope you like it, Popeye, because that’s the closest you’ll ever get to having your name tattooed on my—” She broke off as she felt a tongue flutter along the design.

Drawn to the tattoo like it was a magnet, Dante repeatedly danced his tongue over it. He couldn’t believe she’d done this for him. It was so f*cking hot seeing his name right there. Yeah, okay, it meant he was probably unhealthily possessive to be so turned on by the sight of his name on his mate’s skin like a brand, but so what? She accepted him as he was, cared for him as he was, and that was all that mattered to Dante. “I absolutely love this, baby.” Jaime cried out as the two strong hands that were clamped on her hips tugged her to her knees and then pulled her roughly down onto a long, thick, rock-hard cock. Just like that, she was stuffed full again. When she tried to ride him, he locked his teeth on her shoulder in sexual warning.

“No, baby, I’m in control here.” He raked his teeth over her shoulder in a dominant move that dared her to rebel. Of course his Jaime rebelled. She bucked against the move, growling. He dug his teeth harder into her skin and reached around, cupping her breasts roughly and pinching her nipples.

Again she tried to dislodge his teeth, and he sensed that it was her wolf as much as her who was rebelling now. Whereas once her wolf might have done it out of anxiety, she did it now only to challenge him playfully. The thought of that made him smile around her shoulder. He knew just how to deal with her wolf.

Jaime growled as Dante’s hand snaked around her throat and squeezed. “You sack of shit.” She gasped as he bit her ear.

“You love it when I hold you like this. I know you do, because your p-ssy ripples around my cock every time I do it.” With one hand collaring her and the other still locked on her hip, he moved her body up on his cock and then slammed her down, groaning. “Like that? Want me to do it again?”

“Yes,” she bit out, pissed that he was right and she perversely liked the dominant move. Again and again he impaled her on him until she felt her climax approaching. Then he stopped.

“Do you want to come?”

“Yes,” she growled.

“How bad do you want it?”

Not bad enough that she was going to beg again, if that was where this was heading. Okay, in truth, she would beg if she had to, but a female had her pride. As she knew from experience, there were effective ways to distract Dante. She made a show of sniffing the air and asked in an animated voice, “What’s that smell? God, was that you? Well, it wasn’t me.” Knowing what she was doing, Dante flexed his hand around her throat. “Jaime.”

“Did I remember to tell you that I got worms from the cat? Poor Hunk.”

“Jaime.”

“This would be more fun with a few more people, wouldn’t it?” That got a reaction from him, joke or not. Growling, he slammed her down on him and moved the hand on her throat to her hair. He snatched her head back so that he could see her face. “No one touches you except me, Jaime. No one.” Over and over he impaled her on him, driving his point home. He continuously flicked his gaze from the sight of his name branded on her flesh to her beautiful face to watch the range of expressions that flashed across it. She moaned, groaned, whimpered, and grunted, clawing his legs. He knew exactly what she liked, knew how fast and hard and deep she liked it. “You’re mine and only mine.”

“And you’re mine, you possessive, overprotective, controlling bastard.” He smiled. “All yours, baby.”

As she felt her orgasm ready to wash over her, Jaime moaned, “Dante, I love you.”

“F*ck.” Those words sent white-hot pleasure scorching through his body and brought his climax crashing into him. “Come, baby.” He locked his teeth onto her shoulder again and thrust his hips, jamming his cock up into her. Her p-ssy tightened and spasmed around him as she screamed his name.

When he could finally move again, he combed his fingers through her matted hair. “I love you too, baby.”

She smiled. “Good, Popeye. I’d hate to have to get that tattoo lasered off. It hurt enough getting it done.”

He locked both arms around her. “The tattoo stays, it’s hot. Want me to get your name inked on me?”

She opened her mouth to say no, but she’d be lying if she said her name on his skin didn’t hold some appeal. God, she was getting as bad as he was.

“How about on my arm?”

“No. That’s boring.”

“How about over my heart then?”

“No. That’s corny.”

He frowned. “Is not.”

“Is too.”

Stubborn bitch. “We’ll discuss it later.”

Jaime turned her head as she cautiously suggested, “How about we go for a run in our wolf forms?” As she’d expected, Dante froze and tightened his hold on her.

“Jaime, I don’t think your wolf is ready for that yet.” He wasn’t ready for that yet either.

“There’s only the two of us. She feels safe with you. You said that yourself.” His voice came out small. “What if she doesn’t let you come back again?”

“Don’t think I don’t know that the fear of that taunts you as much as it taunts me. I don’t want it hanging over us like a cloud. We won’t know until we try.”

Although he knew that she was right, he was too damn scared to even seriously consider it.

“Jaime, I—”

“I truly think she’ll let me come back. The fear is there that I’m wrong, but I don’t think I am. I wouldn’t suggest it otherwise.” Plus, it was best to find out now.

It took an entire hour to coax Dante into trying it. Jaime was later glad that she had, because it turned out that she had been right. As her wolf and Dante’s wolf went on their own private run, they played, tussled, raced, and chased each other before finally shifting back into their human forms.

Although her wolf had enjoyed the freedom and time with her mate, she didn’t fight when Jaime wanted to resurface because she felt safe. She was confident that her mate could protect her if necessary and that he would fight at her side.

Jaime suspected that her wolf might still be slightly wary around other wolves if she was without her mate, but not to the extent that she would see them as threats and attempt to attack. Jaime could—for the first time in a long time—coexist peacefully with her.

“If only I could coexist as peacefully with you as I do with my wolf,” Jaime said as they walked back to pack territory hand in hand.

Dante frowned at her. “We coexist peacefully…when you’re not making a mess of our room and ignoring what I say.”

“Maybe you could stop being a neat freak and ease off with barking orders at me.”

“I resent the neat-freak statement. And I do not bark.” She snickered. “Sure you don’t, Popeye.”

“And it wouldn’t kill you to use the shoe rack. I mean, it’s right by the door.”

“Stop putting my CDs in chronological order, and I’ll work on the shoe rack thing.” A short pause. “How about alphabetical order?”

“How about you go to therapy?”

A frustrated growl escaped him. “How about I just shove my cock in your mouth? That should shut you up. Hey!” he whined when she drummed her fingers against his temple. “What’re you doing?”

She shrugged. “I just felt like tapping some ass.”

His mouth dropped open. Her smirk had him growling again. “Bitch.”

“Jerk.”

“Love you, baby.”

“Love you, Popeye.”

THE END


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A huge thank you to my husband for his support and help and, of course, for accepting that I hear voices in my head. I’d also like to thank my two amazing children. Demanding though they are, they’re also my biggest inspiration.

A big thanks to everyone at Montlake Romance, but especially to my editor, Eleni Caminis, and to Melogy Guy, and Sara Brady—all of whom are fantastic at their jobs.

Last but not least, I have to say a massive thank you to all those who have taken the time to read my book. I really hope you enjoyed it!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo by Steven Wright, 2012

Author Suzanne Wright, a native of England, can’t remember a time when she wasn’t creating characters and telling their tales. Even as a child, she loved writing poems, plays, and stories; as an adult, Wright has published three novels, Here Be Sexist Vampires, From Rags , and Feral Sins, the first book in the Phoenix Pack series. Wright, who lives in Liverpool with her husband and two children, freely admits that she hates housecleaning and can’t cook but that she always shares chocolate.