Book Cover created in acrylic by the extremely talented @therealpaul
If you have not read the first book of the series, "Reborn", it is advisable you do so before reading "Renewal" or you will be lost. This link will provide you with a series summary as well as all sixty-eight chapters of Reborn
Table of Contents for Fifty Five chapters of Renewal, created by @bashadow
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter Eighty-Three
Jenna sat on a chair on the back patio in Vegas, still feeling a bit stunned. She hadn’t been awake for the excitement of the morning so Mathias had filled her in and it was taking a moment to digest. She’d had her doubts that anything would come of Jess’s interest in Michael, but with this development everything had changed. He was definitely the type of male who did the “right thing.”
Mathias’s expression had been guarded when he’d told her what transpired and she had an inkling he wasn’t particularly happy about it. Especially after the concerns he’d voiced on the plane. His lack of faith in her sister’s depth was obvious.
Michael and Jess. Well if it worked out her worries over her sister’s love life would be over, that was an enormous plus. She wondered if it would change his plans to head to Europe and figured it probably would, though there were other vampires that would likely go. She knew of one in particular who would definitely go, but didn’t want him to. She needed some time to catch her breath.
Hands dropped down on her shoulders startling her and she looked up into Mathias’s face. His eyes were hooded and her body instantly reacted to the desire on his face. She glanced around nervously but the Brothers Three had gone to their casino, so at the moment they were alone.
He leaned down and spoke next to her ear, causing a shiver of pleasure to slide down her neck. “Come with me.”
She stood and he swept her into his arms and blurred.
When they stopped they were standing in the middle of a small grove of trees and she realized he was carrying a backpack as he slid it off his shoulder and placed on the ground. He pulled out the contents--a picnic, complete with a blanket and a couple of bottles of wine.
When the food was arranged he indicated for her to sit and she did, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
“You said you loved picnics,” he stated breaking the silence.
She nodded and managed a weak smile as she took a bite out of a turkey club sandwich.
“Why so quiet?” His green eyes studied her as she swallowed her food.
“I didn’t peg you for a romantic,” she told him taking another bite of the sandwich.
He grinned, “I have my moments.”
He was so sexy sitting there in his tight fitting black long sleeved shirt she felt like ditching the food and jumping on top of him. Her stomach fluttered as he took a bite of an apple and licked the juice off his lips.
He flashed her another smile. “I would’ve taken you to a waterfall but I’m afraid they’re in short supply around here.”
She had told him about her weekly trips with the girls to the myriad falls in New York, and the fact that he’d taken note made her feel an emotion that scared her. “I’m leaving soon,” she blurted as the fear rose up.
He frowned. “Oh yeah? Where to?”
She studied the food in her hands. “Back to Europe.”
“If you’re thinking of going with Michael I have to tell you that his plans will most likely have changed…” he trailed off as she shook her head.
“I know. I can go on my own.”
“No.” he said simply.
She jerked her eyes to his and saw the flat refusal in them, his features set in grim determination.
“What do you mean “no”? You don’t have a say in it. I told you that we could only spend a week at a time together…
He leapt to his feet and paced away from her taking a moment to compose himself before turning back. “It’s too dangerous Jenna,” he began carefully, “you could be used against Anna and Jess like you were the last time, especially now that so many know about them.”
She frowned hard, “I have to go back to Europe, I have to help Contessa…
He interrupted again, “I’m not saying that you shouldn’t go back, just not alone. I’ll go with you.”
Jenna sat there in silence for a moment. He had a point about the alone part but there was no way he could be the one to accompany her. No. Way.
“I’ll find someone. Maybe Michael will go after all and bring Jess with him…
“Like fucking hell he will, he’s not going to take her to a place teeming with fallen vampires.”
“Okay, then I’ll find someone else, but it can’t be you…
“Why the fuck not?” he demanded, his voice rising.
“You KNOW why the fuck not!” she shouted getting to her feet. “We have an arrangement…
“That I didn’t get a fucking say in! This whole one week a month thing is bullshit!”
“No, it’s not bullshit, it’s…it’s self-preservation!” she felt tears threatening and spun away from him in horror. She would NOT cry!
His hand gripped her shoulder and she wrenched it away.
“Don’t,” she said hoarsely, “don’t do that thing you do where you imagine my anger comes from some deeper place that you need to soothe.”
“Doesn’t it?” he asked softly.
She shuddered. “I don’t want to spend any more time with you,” she told him without turning. “It’s been a great week but I’m done for the moment.”
“You’re afraid,” he told her, his voice still soft.
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. She was going to have to make him angry, there was no way he was letting her walk away unless she did. And she had to walk away, she needed time away from him. Because if she stayed with him too long….in the end she would be heartbroken. Realizing the truth of that made her instantly tense and angry.
She steeled herself and turned. “I’m not afraid Mathias, I’m realistic. This is the only way there can be anything between us.”
He shook his head softly. “Not true Jenna….
Damn it! “Maybe not for you, but in my case I can’t stand being around you for too long. You get on my fucking nerves.” She took a deep breath and added, “To be honest I don’t think I’m the commitment type.” She knew putting doubt in his head about her faithfulness was the fastest way to get a rise out of him.
His eyes narrowed as she spoke. “What do you mean you’re not the “commitment type”?”
“I mean I think I can only deal with guys in small doses before they annoy the hell out of me. The sex is incredible, I won’t deny it, but really that’s all it’s about for me. I’m not the romantic type, picnics, flowers, candy, none of that interests me, I think it’s kind of stupid actually,” she made a face and watched his darken.
He didn’t reply this time, he just turned away and started gathering up the things he’d brought. She was instantly swamped with guilt as she realized she’d hurt his feelings.
“I…I didn’t mean it that way I…”
He looked up at her, his expression remote. “No, you were right, the whole romantic thing is fucking stupid.” He finished stuffing the things into his backpack and dropped it on the ground.
“So, you want to fuck?” he asked, taking a step towards her.
His eyes were completely devoid of warmth and her stomach sank a little. She’d wanted to make him angry, mission accomplished, although this cold anger was not what she’d had in mind.
He stopped in front of her and looked down. Something in his eyes conveyed that it was her last chance to retract the things she’d said. But she knew if she did it would lead them right back to where they’d started.
So instead she said, “Yeah, one last fuck for the road.”
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