Tacos, Wolves and Abnormal Behavior (Grimstone Island), page 11
A mini door to a cubby near the wall on his side opened, and a tray slid out, providing two glasses. Galactic Horizon was crafted as it sounded. The majority of it was hued with deep purples and blues. Other colors sparkled and wavered. Nifty. Adrian raised his in a toast and downed half. My kind of guy.
I brought the drink to my nose. Aye, it smelled like cotton candy. I gingerly took a sip. Flavors of different fruits danced on my tongue. I didn’t detect any alcohol. Oh, well. This stuff was good.
The liquid explosion of flavor going on in my mouth induced a wave of brief lightheadedness and... calm. My limbs sank into the couch, my oral bucket of speech spilled, and in seconds, I was telling Adrian everything. This did not alarm me. It felt good just talking, regardless how weird it might seem to most since I’d just formally met him twenty minutes ago.
As I endlessly went on about my odd self, friends, family, my job, and my birthday tomorrow, Adrian’s face softened ‘til that entire mask of intense, dark edge was gone.
Left was a man whose lips curled in a warm smile and whose eyes shone a twinge of envy.
Yes, the latter piqued interest and inspired asking this question once I halted my train of babble: “What’s life like for you?” I implied all that I’d covered. I wanted to know more of him.
“Busy.”
But that’s all he supplied. The mask was back on. A wall was drawn up.
“Is it wrong to think my pics offered some sort of relief to that?” I laughed, feeling way too loose. Galactic Horizon was undoubtedly coursing through my veins, and seeping into my brain crevices.
“It’s not wrong.” He spoke honestly. “Certain things get to be too much at times...” Glancing away, he mumbled something, then his gaze was on me again, his smile growing slowly. “Certainly, it was nice to be thrown off in a good way, to have my thoughts absorbed in something else for a change.” Heat emitted from his fingertips as they caressed my cheek. “Although, there were many times I wanted to outright hunt you down.”
I snorted.
“Well, I’m glad to provide you with a wacky sundae with extra psycho sprinkles.” I had honestly no clue what the fuck I’d just said. “A little crazy and strange in your life isn’t a bad thing.” Take it from someone who wholeheartedly knows, buddy.
Adrian’s eyes grew wider and wider when I swallowed the last drop of the super yummy drink.
Wiping my lips with the back of my hand, I clinked my empty glass to his still half-full one.
“Another!” I declared and got up to key in the order, but Adrian pulled me back down, suddenly concerned.
“I don’t recommend that.”
“Don’t be a pooper. Come on.” I winked, at least I thought I did. I may have blinked hard or kept blinking just one. “Let’s order more and...” Slipping my hand up his chest, I added, “Get nasty.”
He growled, catching my wrist. Copper eyes burned to almost red. So many pretty colors tonight.
“Clearly, your wits are not present. I don’t think you realize what you drank.”
“Of course, I didn’t fucking know! I just got it ‘cause it had a badass name.”
“Gods.” Adrian sounded angry, but all I was seeing was a man through a crystal kaleidoscope. How awesome!
Wait, wait, wait. I was confused. There were now two Adrians sitting in front of me. Odd.
“Who invited him?” I pointed. Odder, both Adrians did not look happy. I know what to do! “I got this, I got this.” I stood on a wobbly ground. Wobbly, for certain, and you wanna know what else was certain? That I wanted a taste of Mr. Dragon.
He inhaled a sharp intake of breath as I straddled him. “Ko—”
“Sssh.” I mushed his lips with my pinky. “Oh, hang on. I said I got this handled. You want it naughty like you thought you’d get when I started giving you pictures.” I grabbed his face and pressed it to my breasts. “Feel that?”
“Mmmhmm.” He mumbled gibberish that vibrated my boobs.
“That’s the feeling of your carrot-spanking fantasies coming true.”
Adrian broke free, gasping. Oopsies, I forgot breathing was required. His hair was mussed and eyes wild. “Woman, you’ve lost it!”
“On the contrary, Galzra, honey.” I hopped up. Whoa, not good. The damn floor was still shaking. I really wished someone would turn it off. The sexy dragon man, hot guy, redhead, scrumptious cake pop tried to get up, too. Not happening. I shoved him down. Little lines creased his forehead. “I have not lost anything.” That was true. My phone was on the table where I put it when we came in. See? Nothing was missing. I went on my knees in between his thighs. My, my, a flame ignited in his heated stare.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Kokoa, what are you doing?”
“Finding what you think I lost.” Giggling turned to uncontrollable pig snorts as I hooked onto his belt. “It’s right here.” I showed him my fangs and rubbed his cock.
“Shit,” he hissed, tightly, shutting his fireball eyes.
“You like—uh oh.” A disturbance was brewing fast in my stomach. The bubbly monsoon teamed with the tornado in my skull. Cripes, I need to take cover.
“Kokoa!”
Was that Adrian in the twister? I needed to send help. I needed to—
Like a TV suddenly unplugged, everything turned black, and I felt my forehead make contact with his restrained manhood.
What a cruel world we live in.
Chapter Ten
Soft cushions.
Crisp sheets caressed my legs.
I felt divine against them.
Mmm. I sighed, smashing my cheek to the pillow—
Then bolted upright. Fuckity shitcakes, bad idea. My brain spun fast like it was on a malfunctioning microwave plate. Eyes wild, my gaze darted to every object in the room. Everything seemed foreign to me. Where am I? Whose house am I in? Oh, wait.
I was in my bedroom.
I clutched my chest, heart slowing, touching the smooth material of my top.
A sports bra.
“Wha—” I threw the blanket off, revealing, indeed, my body was still clad in the jogging getup from... yesterday? Morning light cascaded into the room. The orange sneakers were sitting neatly on the floor.
It all came back to me real hard like a sack of potatoes had been thrown at me.
Green smoke. Chambers. Ogre bouncer dude. A deep sexy voice that belonged to... a dragon.
Adrian. Finally meeting him... The talking. The touching. The drink that didn’t sit well... The up close and personal introduction of my face and his—
“Oh, Gods,” I moaned, dropping my head in my hands. Another wave of mortification sent me reeling when I realized he must’ve brought me home. How? Yeah, how stupid of me to let that happen. Being unconscious and at the mercy of a person you just met is how girls end up dead.
And had Piper or Lucas seen—
Wham! The door crashed open, causing me to jump two feet in the air like a cat.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” My pointy-eared best friend came in, tossing sparkly confetti. Lucas was right behind her, holding a dozen orange and purple balloons and wearing a cone-shaped party hat.
“Whoa! You look like shit rolled inside a tortilla and dipped in extra spicy shit sauce,” he exclaimed.
“Good morning to you too and thank you. I’ve always strived to become a shitty burrito.” I smiled sweetly and flipped him the bird.
“Be nice.” Piper pulled and released the thin strap of his hat, causing him to yelp.
“Son of a bitch, that hurt!”
“Wonderful. Now, let's get Kokoa’s b-day off to a good start.” She squeezed me and kissed my cheek with a loud Mwah! “Happy birthday, bestie.” Then she handed me a small, pink, see-thru bakery box. Inside was a lavender tinted cupcake with white icing and rainbow sprinkles formed in the shape of the number 23.
“Thank you.” Tears welled. I embraced the woman who’d always be in my life. Lucas engulfed us.
“I was going to spank you twenty-three times and give a pinch for good luck, but Piper said not to,” he said.
“And I’m glad she did.” I dolloped a glob of frosting on his nose.
“Lucas and I have work during the day but made sure to clear tonight.” Piper smiled. “We’ll come straight to the field and party hard with the wolves.”
I tilted my head. “Sorry, all I’m hearing is that I’ll be facing my family alone for the next ten hours without any backup.”
“Life isn’t fair, kid.” She shrugged, eating the sprinkles.
Preach.
I made my way to the bathroom to shower then stopped to address the occupants on my bed.
“Did either of you... see anyone come by... last night?” Or how I ended up in bed while comatose?
“Nope,” Piper said. “I was at Trevor’s mostly.”
“I wasn’t... here.” Lucas glanced away, cheeks red.
“Were you camped out in front of Yasmin’s house again!?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“So the hell what if I was! I’m a free citizen. I’m allowed to do whatever I want!” He threw his arms up, exasperated. “Can’t a guy just check to see if the woman he likes gets home safe and watch her walk inside, unharmed, and keep watching her spend time downstairs before going up and turning on her bedroom light and watch her shadow get undressed, then turn in for the night fifteen minutes past two in the morning? What’s so wrong about that?”
“Everything!” Slapping my forehead, I waved for Piper to lecture him—stalking women was a dick-flicking worthy offense—while I resumed the trek to the bathroom, silently thankful I’d missed an awkward lecture of my own regarding last night.
* * *
After blow-drying my hair, I left it free. The outfit I chose was a frilly white spaghetti-strapped blouse and jean shorts with silver sandals.
Then sighed.
I was excited... really, I was. I’ll be around family all day, a reminder that they were more important than other crap that had gone on this past week. Any humility I created for myself last night was swept under a rug. Damn, I did not need to recount what I’d done. Like it even mattered. You introduce yourself to an individual in the most bizarre way, then it’s fated all will end in the most bizarre way. You’re burned. He’s no doubt horrified. All in all, don’t show your ass to a person unless you have a solid plan what to do afterwards.
Hopefully, by the time I turned thirty, I could look back and laugh at moments such as these because there were sure to be more.
* * *
It’s never safe to rip through gifts in front of the entire family, with children in the area, without screening each one first. Peeking before whipping out the object is a super smart thing to do, considering some aren’t typically meant to be seen in the open public...
For example: the foot long, hot pink dildo my cousin Loretta gifted.
Pop’s jaw dropped, and face turned so damn red, I’d thought he was silently choking on a buffalo wing. In his eyes, I remained an untouched virginal flower.
I’m trying hard not to crack up at that.
Non-family employees of The Growling Grill ran the restaurant while Lovells filled the back party room. Food in crock pots and tin trays crowded long tables on every wall. In the middle were more tables to sit, while a designated corner had smaller chairs and tables for the kids.
I received plenty of hugs, kisses, and hair tugs from my brothers. Loads of hand drawn cards—artfully done by Luna, whose tutu definitely won the best-dressed award compared to my simple outfit.
Gift cards to boutiques were plentiful. Knick-knacks and a lot of handmade crafts from my little monster cousins would decorate my dresser and nightstand later.
And No-No-Bro-Bro coupons from the triplets.
“Whenever you don’t feel like dealing with us, just hand over a coupon.” Jonas explained.
“Yep. That applies to all of us.” James pointed to the older siblings. Devin choked on his fruit punch.
“Uh, I didn’t agree to that!”
Austin slapped him upside the head. “You do now.”
“Boys.” Ma cut in then hushed the whole room. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and granny Lola walked in carrying a triple-decker, rectangular chocolate mousse cake with lit candles.
Every tongue in the room rolled out on the floor.
Sweet baby Goddess, it was gorgeous. The cake was set in front of me, and I couldn’t help but smirk at Devin. His heart ran on chocolate more than anyone, and from the sweat dotting his brow, it must have been killing him to see this hunk of beauty in front of me and know I’d get the biggest slice. Yeah, there were other chocolate cakes provided on tables, but this Godzilla Choco Dessert was the only one decorated with chocolate shavings, strawberry slices, and brownie chunks.
It paid to be the birthday girl.
“Okay, everyone, uncle Liam will be singing the birthday song,” Lola announced as he stepped onto a short platform. A spotlight shone on him. Days ago, he’d smashed his banjo after his rather interesting performance. Now, he gripped a brand spanking new one. He sat on a stool and, after adjusting the mike, he cleared his throat.
“I’d like to dedicate this song to my niece.” He pointed a chubby finger at me. “Kokoa, this one’s for you.” Who else would it be for?
“HAAAAAAAAAApy birthday,
Happy birthday,
A great big birthday,
We love ya to pieces,
And deep-fried cheeses,
Slathered in greases,
Hope ya like your special day.
We’re all gonna eat bacon tooooniiiiiight! BANJO SOLO!”
Liam kicked off the stool and rocked out on the instrument. Admittedly, his fast fingers strummed amazing tunes. Not bad, I thought, popping a strawberry in my mouth, and bounced in my seat.
Not bad at all.
His singing? Yes.
That banjo solo? Bitchin’.
Everyone clapped and stomped their feet with the rhythm. We all howled to the sounds. Around me, smiles were aimed at each other. Ma hugged me from behind, kissing my cheeks.
“Happy Birthday, pumpkin.”
It truly was.
* * *
Call me a glutton for punishment, but I couldn’t keep my thoughts from drifting to one individual. Hours came and went, and not a soul mentioned him, as if he didn’t exist anymore. It was strange to me since, for a while, I’d heard too much of him.
Fuck it. I’m just going to ask.
“Where’s Carver?”
Like a sudden door slam, the room instantly became silent. Palpable, heavily clouded. The pups stopped yammering. Everyone froze in their current position. Even uncle Liam’s fingers sat idle against banjo strings. Ma spoke first.
“He’s... here.”
“Where?” My eyeballs flew around the room. Pulse racing. Certainly, I hadn’t missed him walking in.
“Not in here.” She smoothed the material of her capris. “He’s on the island... and... he’ll see you tonight.”
“Oh,” I breathed out. Though my gut played jump rope, I smiled. “Okay.”
Tonight.
Tonight.
When the sun fell... and darkness approached.
Happening two hours from now.
I’m gonna need more cake.
* * *
A half-moon illuminated the grassy plain. Highlighting running wolf bodies. Two-leggers stood by the wooden picnic tables that were brought around a fire pit, chatting and laughing, still munching on platters. At the back of a van, full of clothes for those who ripped through theirs instead of stripping behind a bush, Tammy unzipped Luna’s tutu. My niece giggled as she wiggled her pale butt then hopped to the ground, squealing, tiny body naked, before turning into a honey brown pup and joined her younger cousins.
I neatly folded my outfit on the front seat and gunned after Devin. I chased after the dark brown wolf; my brother tried hoofing it faster, his paws kicking up dirt, but I was closing in.
The drawbridge of my mouth opened. Closer at his tail.
Almost there... then... Chomp.
Devin yelped. I’m telling Ma!
That what, I bit your hairy ass? Ha! My cackling annoyed him further as we trotted along the edge of the field. She’ll say you deserve it.
That doesn’t make it right!
Telepathy was how shifters communicated in their animal forms. Thank the holy Gods for it, or I wouldn’t be able to voice lovely taunts to my brother while nipping at his ankles.
Quit it!
Sure thing. I stopped trying to grab his paw and just sideswiped it with my head, tripping him entirely. He tumbled like a bowling ball and crashed right into a clueless Jonas, who was furiously using his hind leg to itch his ear.
Ha! Perfect strike, sis! Austin’s voice joined the inner chatroom. Panting, he sprinted to my side. On the other sat Tyler, both big brutes that made me feel like a dwarf hamster.
Release the beasts, Tyler instructed. My tail wagged at his words.
Teehee. I howled, long and high-pitched. The adult wolves who mingled ignored it but that was okay. I wasn’t calling for them.
Every tiny set of furry ears on the heads of young relatives perked. Their shiny-eyed attention snapped to me. I jutted my nose to where Devin and Jonas slowly recovered.
Unsuspecting.
The perfect targets.
I barked once, and all hell broke loose.
Luna’s hyper body led the charge, closely followed by other pups. They flew across the yard of grass and attacked the guys.
Brutal. James squeezed his lanky self between Austin and me.
Very. Should we help? Josh lay at my front paws. I was enjoying the double show unfolding. The second was the ongoing debate whether Josh and James should help their triplet, though they made no move to do so.
She’s got my tail! She’s got my fucking tail! Jonas screamed. Luna’s teeth latched on like a tick on a deer. Devin whimpered pathetically as he was removed from sight under the ultimate wolf pile. At this point, everyone, yes, including me, was belly up, laughing like hyenas. Oh, man, that’s good stuff.
My watery eyes cleared.
Then I was the only one laughing. My brothers stared wide at something behind me. Whines erupted, and dare I say, they cowered a little. I expected the sissy display from Devin or Jonas but not Tyler and Austin.
