Lycan Christmas

Christmas
S. K. Yule
Sherry sat down in the seat Shannon had vacated only moments before, and Melony couldn’t help but admire her gorgeous red hair and deep-set green eyes. She thought she looked to be close to her and Lorent’s age, and she was very pregnant.
“She hasn’t really done anything to me, Sherry.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t think we all haven’t seen the way she rubs all over you like a cat in heat, not to mention that you look as if you’ve been sucking on a lemon every time she does it.”
Melony snorted before she could stop herself, and Lorent shot her a look that said in no uncertain terms he didn’t appreciate being the center of entertainment. She cleared her throat and tried to hide the smile that tugged at her lips. Oh, Lorent, you need to loosen up, babe, and I’m just the one to show you how.
“How are you liking it here, Melony?” Sherry brushed off Lorent’s agitation with casual nonchalance.
“It’s a beautiful place, what I’ve seen of it so far anyway. Everyone has been nice to me.”
“Everyone?” Sherry shot a glare in the direction Shannon had disappeared.
Melony just smiled at Sherry’s upturned brow, deciding it would be better to leave this conversation alone for now.
“There you are.” Piers came up behind Sherry and pulled her up gently.
The man was huge, and dwarfed the redhead by at least a foot, but Sherry didn’t appear intimidated in the least. She turned and hugged Piers before standing on tiptoe and kissing his chin. He smiled and rested a hand on her swollen belly. The intimacy made Melony blush just as Rose and Knox’s embrace had earlier. Good God, the heat the couples gave off around here was near sinful.
Fighting the urge to fan her hot cheeks, Melony yawned, and stretched her back instead. The last few days—the last few months—had been stressful, and exhaustion crept into her muscles and bones. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle another yawn.
“Sorry. I think I’m going to turn in now.” Melony stood.
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Lycan Christmas
S. K. Yule
Sherry turned back and tapped Lorent on the shoulder. “Lorent will see you home safely. Won’t you?”
He nodded and stood. Melony thought he looked as if he’d probably rather chew his own arm off than walk her home at the moment.
“I can make it back on my own.” Melony tried to move away, but Sherry interrupted her progress.
“It’s your first night here, and it’s really dark. Let him walk with you.”
Sherry smiled. “It was nice to talk with you, Melony.”
“You too, Sherry.” Melony told Sherry and Piers good night before stopping to tell Knox and Rose good night as well. She waved at the other couples before starting home with Lorent by her side.
30
Lycan Christmas
S. K. Yule

Chapter Four
Melony glanced surreptitiously at Lorent as they walked along the darkened path to her cabin. She wasn’t normally a person who was bashful, usually dove right into conversation, but for some reason, with him she lacked her normal confidence. It wasn’t that he frightened or intimidated her, but he had an unapproachable, hands-off air about him that made her nervous.
She felt as if she were walking on the proverbial eggshells around him. As ridiculous as it may be to think that about a man who stood well over six feet and could turn into a predatory animal at any moment, her instincts told her that he was one who could be hurt easily. And for some unexplainable reason, she wanted him to trust her.
“Do you like Sanctuary?” She figured that was an unobtrusive, innocent enough question.
“Yes.” Lorent’s voice was quiet, hesitant, as if he didn’t want to answer even that simple inquiry.
She sighed and wondered how long it would take until he’d loosen up around her. Then another thought occurred to her. Knox and Rose knew her fairly well at this point, knew she was an outgoing, talkative, initiative person.
Maybe they’d paired her up with Lorent, made him her instructor not just for her benefit, but for his as well. Yes, he could teach her everything she needed to know, but maybe she had something to teach him too.
A smile tugged at her lips. If that were the case, she’d do her job well. “I bet the gathering for Thanksgiving here is phenomenal.”
“In what way?” He glanced at her and kept walking.
“I meant, I assume that it is a fairly big gathering. My family has always been on the small side, and for the last few years before my mom died, it was just her and me at Thanksgiving dinner. It will be nice to be around so many people this year for the holidays. They tend to get a bit lonely, seem somewhat pointless when you have to spend them alone.”
She didn’t miss the way his dark brows drew down as he mulled over what she’d said. He wasn’t forthcoming with words, but his expression gave 31
Lycan Christmas
S. K. Yule
away his deep thoughts. She wondered what it would be like to kiss away his frown lines, to replace them with happiness.
Whoa! Slow down there. A little quick to be thinking of things like that, don’t ya think, Melony?
“It’s got to be magical to share it with so many people who care about you, who you care about.” Melony prodded just a little, as she was pretty sure if she pushed too hard, he’d shut down completely.
“Yes, I suppose so.” His quiet response hinted at regret.
She worried her bottom lip, a habit she’d tried many times to quell, but had finally given up after several attempts to do so had ended in failure. She imagined that his life as a rogue hadn’t been easy, and wondered at the things he may have witnessed, the things he might have done. That last thought gave her pause. She looked at his hands, barely visible from the moonlight shining