The Moon Rises (37 page)

“You like it?” Gigi said even though she knew he
did, but she wanted to hear another compliment.

“One good thing about hiding you from my family
is how you can’t repeat this, but your stew is way better than my mom’s,” Finn
said then added like a dutiful son, “And my mom’s is really good.”

“Thank you. I heard you can make a man fall in
love with you by cooking for him and I want you to fall in love with me.”

Finn eyed her and she saw several emotions
swirling around in his eyes. She suspected he wanted to do the right thing and
keep his distance, yet she also suspected he was going to let her take his
shirt off tonight.

Thirty minutes later, after Finn devoured three
plates of stew, Gigi did get his shirt off. A heated gasp erupted from her lips
when she gazed upon his strong chest and hard stomach. She ran her fingers
along the golden skin and shuddered.

Yet when Finn laughed, Gigi felt embarrassed like
when Anton pushed her away after she became overheated from kissing him. Did
Finn think she was acting like a whore?

“Why are you sad?” he asked instantly.

“I know I get horny and act weird.”

Finn exhaled and pulled her closer. “I wasn’t
laughing at you. It’s just that you’re the most beautiful female I’ve ever
seen. When you seem interested in me, I just can’t believe it.”

Gigi frowned, unsure if she believed him since
Finn wouldn’t tell her anything he thought might hurt her feelings.

“In fact that’s why I wasn’t sure I wanted to
shift for you. I worried you wouldn’t like me once you really understood what I
am.”

“But you’re a beautiful dog, almost as beautiful
as you are a man.”

Finn pulled her into his lap and Gigi felt her
skin flush again. Watching her, he looked like he wanted to say something, yet
Finn hesitated. Gigi noticed when she stared at Finn, really stared into his
eyes, he had a tendency to calm down and just say or do whatever he was holding
back. So she stared and after a few false starts, Finn finally whispered, “I
love you,” as if afraid she would be offended by his declaration. In fact his
gaze immediately lowered, waiting for her to blow him off.

“You love me?” Gigi asked, breathing too quickly.
“Romantic love, not friend love?”

Finn looked at her and nodded, still unsure of
her response even with her chest rising and falling like she was about to
hyperventilate.

“I love you too.”

“You don’t have to say it just because I did.”

For a moment Gigi did wonder if she only said the
words because she was excited by him saying them. She thought to Anton who said
them, but it wasn’t clear why he said them besides being lonely and needing to
believe he might have a family one day. Finn knew her better than Anton did so
she thought his love meant something else, something more permanent. Yet did
she love Finn or just want to love someone so she wouldn’t be lonely? Was she
doing what Anton did and just picking the first person who might fit?

Gigi wasn’t good at analyzing anything, but she
knew Finn made her happy. He made her feel safe even though he wasn’t powerful
like other Weres. Finn made her laugh and she felt like she could say stupid things
to him without having him judge her. When she needed someone after Sara died,
Finn comforted her. When she needed someone after Anton stood her up, Finn made
her feel special. Was that love though?

“How do you know you love me?” Gigi asked.

“I need you. When you’re in the room, I’m happy.
When you’re not, I’m just wading through life. I would give up everything to be
with you. I don’t know how to explain it in a way you’ll understand. It’s not
just that you’re beautiful or sweet or funny or strong. It’s that you’re you.
Only you make me feel this way.”

“I love you too,” Gigi said after a few quiet
minutes of holding his hand. “I thought really hard to make sure, but yes I
love you too. That’s what I feel. Love, not lust.”

Finn’s expression shifted as he accepted this new
situation. He clearly hadn’t expected her to love him. While he thought she
wanted Anton and she did, desire and love weren’t the same things. Besides as
much as she always hoped for Anton, she didn’t trust him. She trusted Finn.

Gigi climbed back into his lap and ran her hands
down his chest. Those quiet moments of consideration dissolved into immediate
heat. All the poker games when Gigi wanted to touch Finn, to yank off his
shirt, to yank off all his clothes actually, had roused a need in her and now was
her chance.

The moment her lips met his, Gigi knew Finn
wasn’t uncertain. He wanted her and this was his chance too. His arms wrapped
around her and Gigi immediately started thinking about ideas from the sex book.
She had some plans for Finn.

“We’re not having sex tonight,” Finn whispered in
her ear while kissing her neck.

“Why?” Gigi whined, trying to pull away as she
wondered if he could read her mind.

“Because it’s our second date. A little
anticipation won’t kill you.”

Finn was grinning as he said his words and she
frowned at him. “You’re teasing me.”

Still smiling, he pulled her closer. “I’m going
to lick your neck now. If you get scared, just remember how much stew I had for
dinner. I’m stuffed.”

Gigi laughed then fell silent when his tongue
tasted her. Shivering when his lips sucked at her neck, her hips grinded
against his, wanting more, no matter what he said. She knew the key was getting
his pants off. Yet no matter Finn’s arousal, he never let her hands anywhere
near his zipper. Instead Gigi and Finn cuddled on the couch, kissing for almost
an hour before they said goodnight and he slipped out of the building.

Blue balls or not, Gigi knew she was in love with
someone who loved her back. That would have to be enough. Well it would be
enough until operation “Get Finn’s Pants Off” was a success.

Silas grunted which was his way of telling Gigi
to come into his office. She put on a happy smile and hoped she wasn’t in
trouble since Silas had never summoned her before. He looked up and grinned at
Gigi like he sometimes did when he was in a good mood and she wasn’t asking too
many questions.

“Tonight I’m switching you from the witch floor
to the pack floor.”

Gigi said nothing, but her face must have done
something because Silas frowned.

“Is that a problem?” he asked.

Shaking her head, Gigi didn’t want to see Anton
so soon after she found out he was just using her for sex and never really
intended to stay with her. Gigi needed to focus on Finn and staying angry with
Anton helped, but something about Anton always soothed her. If she wasn’t
careful, soon she would forgive him and start hoping his every sweet comment or
meaningful glance actual meant something. Anton blinded her because she wanted
to be blinded by him.

Finn was real while Anton was the fantasy she
couldn’t let go of. A fantasy which would destroy the love she was building
with Finn. Weeks earlier, Gigi couldn’t have Finn and she grabbed for every
possible male to fix her loneliness. Now she had Finn and Gigi needed to let
Anton go. She couldn’t tell Silas any of this, even though he was now scowling
at her.

“Which one?” Silas growled. When Gigi just
frowned, he sighed. “Declan or Anton?”

“Anton.”

“Want me to toss his ass out tonight?” Silas said
with a serious expression, but Gigi sensed he was teasing her.

“Okay,” she said, calling his bluff.

Silas gave her one of those big grins he saved
for when she survived death. “I guess I could leave you on the witch floor, but
Roger’s back and his guys have talked you up and he really wants to meet you.
If you were willing to deal with seeing Anton, I could have Ella work his section
tonight.”

Nodding, Gigi smiled. “Okay, but can I have the
earlier shifts for the rest of the month?”

Silas’s smile disappeared. “Why?”

“Because I want to get home earlier. The other
girls like the later shifts because they get better tips. I bet any of them
would be happy to switch with me.”

Silas scowled. “Fine, but I want to half your
shifts. Half on one floor, half on another. I get a lot of pissy complaints
from each group about not seeing you enough.”

“I thought the girls couldn’t switch floors.”

“The other girls can’t, but you’re special,”
Silas said with a hint of malice even though he was grinning. “We got a deal?”

Gigi nodded and started to leave when Silas
spoke. “Oh, yeah, and tonight is Picnic Night on the pack floor. You’ll need to
wear a different uniform. Ella will tell you which one and don’t let her know
about whatever Anton did to piss you off because she’ll just act like a fool
all night.”

Nodding again, Gigi headed to the locker room, wondering
about the uniform she needed to wear. Soon she and Ella were decked out in jean
shorts as tiny as their normal ones and a white and red checkered shirt which
they tied in a bow so their stomachs were bare. Gigi realized she was actually
more naked than in her normal uniform which meant Picnic Night must be very
popular with the Were males. Her outfit was finished off with cowboy boots
which was the only part Gigi liked since the heels on her normal boots made her
feet hurt.

Ella loved her outfit and danced around the floor,
shaking her ass to the beat of every song. The guys alternated between laughing
at her behavior and looking horny. Declan had to keep smacking his guys in retaliation
for all the lewd comments, but they would just chuckle and start up again.

Gigi didn’t wiggle her ass because she never
found it fun and she didn’t care if she received good tips. Her mind was on
seeing Anton and forcing herself to stop wanting him. When the door to the
floor opened, Gigi prepared for the beautiful Were, but instead found two other
beautiful Weres.

Gigi assumed the blond Were was Roger because he
nodded at Declan then sat in Roger’s pack section on the floor. The Alpha was
thick with muscle like the other Alphas, but maybe a bit shorter and a few
years younger. His body looked strong, yet his face had delicate, almost pretty
features. His blue eyes were very hard as he sized up the room, forcing away
the gazes of the males from the other packs.

The second Were must be the secret weapon Roger
went looking for and he was the one who caused a flush to her skin when she
first gazed upon him. Even though Ella talked about him in the locker room, Gigi
couldn’t remember his name. He was taller than Roger and his muscular body
seemed leaner, tighter. While Roger’s hair was short and spiky, the other
Were’s hair was a golden brown and long - past his ears, though not quite to
his shoulders. His face was relaxed and his hazel eyes appeared almost bored,
but he was intensely handsome and rugged without trying. While Roger glared and
dared, the other male easily exuded a quiet menace.

Gigi knew all Weres weren’t so handsome, but the
Alphas were and of course Finn was stunning. Even Michael and Silas were fun to
stare at so maybe Gigi shouldn’t have stared at Roger’s secret weapon. She was
also in love with Finn and trying to get over Anton, not to mention her
feelings for Simon. The last thing she needed was another male to fawn over,
but she did fawn, though she hid it well.

Strolling towards them, Gigi still felt anxious,
only because Roger specifically wanted to meet her and the pressure of making a
good impression left her feeling insecure. Or maybe Anton’s rejection made her insecure.
Either way she felt silly under the gazes of the two males.

“Good evening,” she said, wearing her best,
non-crazy smile.

“Gigi,” Roger said and his smile immediately
shifted his face from menacing to pleasant. “Apparently I missed all sorts of
fun and most of it revolved around you.”

Gigi didn’t think Sara and the other girls
disappearing was fun, but she didn’t say this to him. Yet she instantly disliked
him.

“Everyone talked about you while you were gone.
They said you’re the weakest of the three Alphas.”

Roger’s smile faded for only a second then returned
with gusto. His friend smirked.

“Hell, yeah, they did,” Roger said. “I’m the
youngest and best looking too. Did they mention those parts?”

Gigi smiled because she liked how he didn’t get
mad at her for being rude.

“No, but they were trying to impress me at the
time.”

Laughing, Roger nudged his friend who was still
grinning even though his eyes lingered on the menu, never reaching Gigi.

“Are you ready to order?” Gigi asked, pulling out
her pad and pencil.

“Kyle here needs time to look over the menu. He’s
not used to being so civilized.”

Gigi knew Roger was teasing Kyle, but she didn’t
know what the comment meant.

“I’ll be back then,” Gigi said and started making
her rounds.

No matter where Gigi went on the floor, she felt
Roger’s eyes on her. Even when the guys from his pack arrived or when he played
pool with Kyle, his eyes always lingered. Kyle though never paid her much
attention which bothered her for some reason.