Stone Predator by Kennedy Harkins (important books to read .TXT) 📖

corridor, next to that thing. No one was even aware that you were gone; since you were here past your hours. I sent the fist wave of responders off with the...body, and carried you here, where you woke up.” He had calmed himself down towards the end of the story, but in the middle I had almost convinced myself he was going to strangle me for putting myself in that much danger. There was one thing that he didn’t answer.
My eyes were only halfway open and dropping lower by the second, everything was blurry and in a haze. “How did you know I was injured?” My voice sounded...exhausted.
He smiled, put cupped my cheek, and used his free hand to close my eyes for me.
“Nathan called me,” he said happily, why wouldn’t he be happy? He’d just won another battle. Although it was a pretty cheap shot, drugs were involved.
“Oh, did he know?” It came out like a slurred mess and I’m not even sure he understood.
“Sleep now,” his voice was very alluring and deep. It had me drifting even father away.
“Don’t...go...” I felt his rough hands stroking my face and then I sank into a devastatingly peaceful sleep.
***
I woke up in the passenger seat of Ace’s SUV, just as he cut the engine in fact. I lied there for a few seconds with my eyes closed.
“I know you’re awake,” he reminded me. Oh, right, supernatural senses...damn. I continued the cherade, moving just sounded so...icky.
I heard the door slam and in a matter of seconds he was opening my side. My head rolled to the side and met his eyes, then I closed mine. He swooped me up into his arms and walking. The back of my head was resting on his bicep, which gave me a great view of his face.
“Where are we going?” I asked dreamily, clearly the drugs hadn’t worn off.
“Inside,” he mocked my tone.
“Oh...okay.” I said brightly. He glanced down at me with a questioning expression. “I think...I’m...stoned,” I giggled.
Ace roared with laughter, “You think?” He held all my weight in one arm and opened the front door. That’s when I realized we were at his house.
“Wait, this isn’t-what about my bed? It’ll get all...lonely.”
He raised his eyebrows, “Do you really think I’m going to leave you alone in your...condition.” He said it with a whole lot of disapproval.
“You were alive during the 70’s, so didn’t you like...you know...” I trailed off with a blush.
He continued up the stairs, “It doesn’t work on werewolves.”
“That sucks, because I feel...amazing!” We entered a room I hadn’t seen before. It was decorated in blues and had paintings all over the place. Ace set me down a king-sized fluffy bed. I sank right in and enjoyed the softness.
I gazed over at a closet that was just full of clothes; suits, jeans, t-shirt, you name it.
“Who lives here?” I wondered out loud.
He sat on the bed and looked over at me warily, “That would be me.” Woa! I was in Ace’s room...cool.
I crawled over to where he was and rested my head against his shoulder, “Is this the part were you seduce me?” I could have strangled myself, this high was making me into an idiot! I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.
He laughed merrily, “Not tonight, I’m afraid.” He picked me up under the arms and dragged the covers over me, then pushed my head against the overly plushy pillow. “Go to sleep, the hospital has given you the day off tomorrow.”
I pouted like a child, “I don’t want to go to sleep.”
“Life is rough.”
I sighed and snuggled my body against the warm bed, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad...

His cold grey eyes stared at me from down the hall. He had his hand around Jennifer’s throat. She was screaming, calling for me to help her. His long sharp fingernails pierced into her jugular, where the nails touched became grey. It spread throughout her whole whole body. Freezing every part as a statue, forever stone. Lastly her face, a scream was trapped in her mouth. A cry the world would never hear.
He stood and walked over Jen, not sparing her a second glance. He was coming right for me. I yelled and screamed, hoping someone would hear me. I tried to run, to move, to breath, but I was frozen on the spot just as Jen was. He reached out and touched my face, his hands were like death.
“You will pay for what you have done,” he hissed before sinking his sharp teeth into my neck.  
“Vivi! Vivica, open your eyes now,” the words came as roar and I knew it was Ace. I felt myself shaking with fear from the nightmare, I opened my eyes to look upon the furious face of my prince.
When our eyes met he looked so relieved, like the world had been lifted of his shoulders. That’s about when I started balling. His bewildered expression just made my cry harder. He silently crawled into bed next to me and held me through all my tremors.
“I...didn’t...save her,” I wailed between sobs, “He killed...me...it felt...so real!”
“Shh, there was nothing you could have done. Your safe, that’s what matters,” He breathed into my hair. I shook my head violently. She had been my responsibility.
He sighed heavily, “Can you please let me win this one?”
“You win them all!” I cried.
He chuckled darkly, “Does it really seem that way to you? Do you think I like making you into something you’re not?” I went silent, I guess I hadn’t truly thought through his side of the equation. It must be terribly lonely, being afraid to fall in love, because of what it might do to the other person.
I rolled over, so that I could better reach his face. Sensing what I was about to do, he tried to pull away. I didn’t give him the chance. Grasping his head my hands, I welded our lips together. As soon as our lips met, I felt a need to let him take charge, to admit to his dominance. I fought it off. I thought of Mr. Melson, maybe there was a way to be with Ace and keep my independence. If all I had to do was be stubborn, I had this in the bag.
At first Ace had frozen, completely shocked at my sudden advance. Now that he’d thawed out, it was even harder to resist taking the submissive part. We thrashed around, both of us fighting with our inner natures. I knew I’d win, because when I met Ace’s eyes, it was clear he was going to let me win.
We settled into a peaceful rhythm, our lips moving as one. I smiled into his blazing hot embrace, and enjoyed my brief victory.
Compromise

I rolled out of Ace’s bed when the sun got to bright to ignore. I didn’t bother worrying about how crumpled my clothes looked from sleeping in them last night. Yes, I spent the whole night fully clothed, I’m not a complete idiot. Despite what some people like to say...Taking our relationship to that level without stopping to think about the serious after math, would be the stupidest thing anyone ever did.
Ace had gotten up way before I was conscious, so I decided the first thing I would do with my day off would be to find him. Which was no small mission in that house. Thank God for my photographic memory or I might have been wandering around for hours looking for the kitchen.
I found a disheveled Ace sitting at the table starting on his third coffee. I prepared myself for something that was probably going to be unpleasant. While I had been lying awake this morning, I’d had lots of time to think things over, and get a real plan going. That was always the hard part, but now, all I have to do is execute. In more ways than one, I thought darkly.
“How’s my favorite werewolf this morning?” I asked merrily.
He looked up from his cup and smiled at my lame joke, “Fine. How’s my favorite human?”
“Usually I’d be super excited about the day off, but I find myself in need of blood and guts.”
His brow furrowed and I was reminded of his beliefs. It didn’t bother me as much as it had at first, just another habit I would have to forcefully beat out of him... “So,” I tried for nonchalance, “how good is your sense of smell?”
He stiffened, and hesitated before speaking, “The best of any predator, in wolf form, in human I’m still light years ahead of you.”
I nodded like it didn’t matter, “Did you pick anything up...last night?” Ace was instantly standing in front of me, hand gripping my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye. His expression was somewhere between extreme wary and fury.
“You don’t need to worry about that. The pack will take care of it, and you will stay as far away from this issue as you can get. It was far to close last night, and I won’t allow you to put yourself in needless danger.”
I could feel my temper flaring up at the words; will, won’t allow, and needless. First, the controlling thing was a real bite in the ass. Second, needless? Tell that to Jen. I had never taken the time to get to know her, but she was still on my staff and therefor; my responsibility. Someone’s head was going to roll for this.
“It wouldn’t matter anyway, to be of any help I would have to be in wolf form. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how this would endanger you. In my other form I’m more animal than I ever am, and given your talent to ‘ruffle my feathers’...”
“So, in short; you’ll never let me see you in wolf form?” I asked trying to lead the conversation away from my request. If he thinks I’ve given it up he’ll be more likely to let me be alone, so I can find someone who will help me. I ran through the possibilities...I was a little low on super smelling beings who didn’t care if I got hurt. Guess that meant I’d have to go S.S.B hunting. (Super Smelling Beings).
He nodded curtly, “Correct.”
I sighed heavily, and proceeded to sit at the table. I quickly grabbed his cup and took a huge swig. He smiled widely at my attempt to ‘ruffle his feathers’.
“You’re going to have to do a little better than that,” he scoffed.
“Give me time, pup,” I grinned at my annoying new nick name.
“Pup? Do you have an idea how old I am?” He raised his eyebrow.
“You were born in Iowa in 1934, you fought in WWII as soon as you were 18. After ten years you discharged and moved back home. Where you were...” I tailed off wishing I had stopped earlier.
“Turned?” There was