Wyvern Protection Unit - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Warm rivulets of water cascaded over Caro’s exhausted skin, heating her body after her hasty trip to her best friend’s cabin in upstate New York. She still could not believe what was happening.
The past twenty-four hours had been filled with more anxiety than Carolina Moore had ever experienced. Imagine running from a Demon!
She could hardly grasp the situation, much less explain it. Thank God, she had friends like Jennifer Dylluan. The woman was her oldest friend. Even when they went months without talking, she knew she could rely on Jenn.
They never missed a beat, always picking up where they’d left off. Of course, this time, Caro didn’t bury the lead like she had when she and Joffrey decided to call it quits.
“Jenn?”
“What happened?” her friend asked.
Jennifer was not psychic or one of those people who waited for bad news. She was something else, though. Something very special. Jennifer was a supernatural creature known as a Shifter.
It seemed there was an entire world that existed beside the human one where beings such as Shifters, Werewolves, Vampires, and more existed. And that was why she knew she needed to call her friend the second she discovered an Ancient Egyptian Demon was after her.
Like always, the Owl Shifter instinctively knew Carolina needed help. Without hesitation, Carolina told Jennifer everything that had happened, including her changed travel plans. She needed to know she was not crazy.
“Good,” Jennifer had replied. “Don’t fly to Newark, get yourself to JFK. Then take a cab to my cabin, here is the address. Don’t use that phone again. Buy a disposable, and stay off social media,” she’d instructed.
After that, it was easy. All Caro had to do was sit on a plane, get in a cab, and flee for her life. Jennifer’s large mountain cabin was the ideal place for her to hide out.
It was Christmas weekend. She could read a book, watch an old DVD, and maybe even work on some sketches, when she wasn’t watching out for giant dildo-men.
Caro was totally prepared to rough it for however long it took a Demon to forget about her. Of course, the stubborn Owl would not let it go. Jennifer had decided she needed a babysitter.
Ugh.
Then this had happened! One minute, she’d been relaxing under Jennifer’s impressive three-headed shower. She’d used her cookie scented sugar scrub all over, had shaved her legs and pits, and then, because no one was there besides her, Caro had applied lotion all over her body, and was waiting for it to air dry.
After two months in Egypt, who could blame her for wanting to pamper herself a little? Caro had thought she was alone on the mountain. It was the perfect opportunity for her fluffy self to let everything hang loose, since she had nothing to do but wait, anyway.
Of course, that was when things got interesting. Caro was now half nude and standing over a strange mountain of a man, who was admittedly gorgeous, even with spit running down his chin. Towel over her boobs, bikini briefs barely covering her bottom, and the stun gun she’d used to attack him still in her hand, she worried her lower lip.
"Shit. Did Jennifer send you?” she asked, and the man nodded briefly.
Carolina had only decided to bathe and listen to a little music, trusting her bodyguard wouldn’t show for at least another hour. But out of nowhere, this behemoth of a man showed up standing there like a Peeping Tom, and the rest, of course, was history.
She’d reacted rather predictably. Well, for a woman in her position, anyway.
“You shot me,” the enormous, and yes, hot as hell, man said for the second time since she’d gotten her clothes back on and introduced herself properly.
After a little more screaming, and a phone call to Jennifer, Caro was a little embarrassed about the whole thing. Mostly because her chubby little body had been on display for who knows how long while he’d stood there.
“So? You broke in and stood there staring at me! What are you, some kind of pervert?”
“First of all, you left the back door unlocked. Then, you had headphones on, and couldn’t hear me. Not smart for a woman in hiding. And last, you were already naked. I had nothing to do with it,” he said, and was it her or did he sound miffed about that?
Hmm. Interesting.
“I’m sure I am not the first woman you’ve seen naked,” she scoffed, and rummaged through the cabinets for tea.
“No, but you are the first one I’ve seen who looks like that,” he replied easily, as if it were a compliment, but she couldn’t be sure.
Carolina ignored the remark and concentrated on the task at hand. It was a self-defense thing. When Carolina got antsy, she drank tea. And there was something about this insanely tall, and half as wide, man that made her nerves go into hyper-drive. Especially after that little comment.
Did he like the way she looked? Her ex had made it no secret that he’d rather she tried to lose weight. He’d even bought her exercise machines and fitness club memberships as presents during the holidays.
Talk about a jerk! Like Joffrey was some kind of perfect prize.
Now, if this man here had certain fitness expectations of his sexual partners, well, Caro could totally understand.
“I don’t think I introduced myself properly,” he said, standing in front of her suddenly.
He held out his hand, a wide grin splitting his face when she took it. If he was handsome before, he was drop-dead gorgeous now.
Holy cow.
“My name’s Jasper Wessex,” he growled, and she nodded.
“Um, I know. Jennifer said when you were still on the floor. I’m Caro⁠—”
“Carolina Moore,” he finished, releasing her hand and backing up a step.
She cleared her throat and resumed getting the tea. The guy was physically perfect as far as she could see. Tall, muscular, and completely gorgeous. And way out of her league.
Caro was a chubby nerd, and he was obviously some kind of fitness nut. Hell, she’d never seen so many muscles.
Though, to be fair, he wasn’t all veiny and oiled up like some of those bodybuilders who went around posing and sporting thongs on Facebook.
Not him. His physique looked much more natural. Of course, she supposed good genes counted for a lot in life. Maybe his ancestors were dark-haired Vikings or something.
Carolina was a mutt herself. A mix of over half a dozen ethnicities from both her parents. The Moore’s were a melting pot. She was proud of her family’s mixed history, even though she seemed to get the shit genes.
Short, chubby, with wide hips and big feet. Size tens.
Ugh.
She did like her eyes, though. They were her best feature, along with her thick, long hair. As an artist, she appreciated beauty, and she was honest about it. It didn’t make her conceited to like certain things about herself.
This guy here, though, he hit the jackpot with his genetics. His height alone was extraordinary. Like a titan amongst men, she snorted at her own flight of fancy.
“Did you just snort?” he asked, and she turned around, eyes wide.
Shit.
She’d forgotten he was there. Adopting a nonchalant expression, she shrugged and poured the boiling water, watching as the liquid darkened before handing him the mug.
“Thank you. Mmm, smells like Christmas,” he said and grinned.
Dayum.
Being on the receiving end of one of his potent smiles was like a sucker punch to her long since used female bits.
“Um, it’s a cinnamon ginger tea blend. Jennifer always has a great variety,” she mumbled, feeling like a dork.
“Honey?”
“What?” she asked, turning once more.
“I asked if you have any honey,” he repeated, looking her up and down, and fuck yeah, she did. But not the kind he meant.
Gulp.
Squeezing her legs tightly together, Caro rummaged in the cupboard till she found a little squeezable bear.
“Here,” she said, tossing it to him.
“Thank you.”
Ooh, she wished she had some clay.
Jasper Wessex was like sex on legs. Wouldn’t she just love to sculpt him—hell to the yes, she would.
With his muscles and height, she could fashion gods after him. Maybe she could do some gem work as well with those crazy eyes of his. They were unlike anything she had ever seen. A dark golden color, and now and then, she was certain they glowed.
“So, was that a Taser 2x?” he asked, referring to her stun gun.
“Um, yes, actually.”
Caro shrugged, embarrassed now. She’d picked it up on the street outside the airport before hopping into a cab.
“Where did you get that? It’s for law enforcement.”
“Don’t you know you can buy anything online these days?”
“When did you have time?”
“Fine, I got it from some guy right outside the airport. He was a bodyguard I think, but I had cash, and he did not ask questions.”
Jasper was frowning hard, but what was already done was done. She shrugged and refilled his mug.
“It’s over now. I already have the thing. So, do you drink tea often?”
“Sure,” he replied, much to her surprise.
He looked like the kind of guy who only drank protein shakes during work hours and straight whiskey at night. No rocks. No water. Just fiery liquid passing through those full lips and running down his throat.
Would his Adam’s apple bob up and down when he swallowed? What would he taste like if she kissed him there? Salty or sweet? Maybe both.
Uh oh.
Caro fidgeted in her seat, squeezing her legs together to stop the incessant throbbing. For fuck’s sake, what was wrong with her? You’d think after one failed marriage she would be immune to men.