Hello, my dears!

A new update - yey! I actually had doubts about this one - should I keep the chapter in the book or omit it? Some of you have been nudging me to finally get into the story and stop being lovey-gooey with Avery and Jon. I can assure you, they have a whole adventure to go through, don't worry.

I simply don't want to rush their relationship without giving them time to get to know each other. They have been hurt deeply by people and in my humble opinion you just don't start up a conversation about your worst nightmares with a stranger. Admitting your faults, guilt and pain comes like a confession and there are only few close people who you can be that open with. So think of this chapter as a stepping stone in their relationship ( a couple therapy if you will) - they are trying to pick themselves up after they've been hurt and openly courting each other in their own twisted way.

If you don't like it - don't read it. It's as simple as that. (sorry for the rant... I am on a roll these days!)
Xoxo,
SteamyHot

***

Chapter 6 - Lonely hearts

dedicated to @JazCullen who just happens to be my new favorite author. I love "fighting the inevitable". It's the quality of a book that I want to one-day be able to write. Love it!

***

Avery

Avery kept on glancing at him from the corner of eye. She saw him for the very first time not as the Rogue who was trying to establish his control over her, but as a troubled soul with anger issues. Sadly, she had to admit to herself, that she had done nothing but fuel his rage.

His outburst proved that much. While Avery found it old-fashioned that he didn't think that she-wolves should cuss, it still annoyed her that he thought he could manhandle her. Even his obvious pain over his past was not enough of a reason to excuse him.

On the other hand, she did like his resolution to take charge of a situation and rectify it. It showed strength and will power – qualities that she admired. While she still fumed over his rough treatment, she had to admit that she didn't mind being pressed into the couch by his hard body. He was right. He wasn't skinny. Just lean and very well defined, from what Avery felt as he successfully used his weight to restrain her as he was lecturing her on she-wolves and cussing.

It almost made her want to cuss again – purely accidentally of course – to provoke him. What was the worst thing that could happen?

Avery didn't know what to do with Jon. She couldn't just let his behavior go unchecked, but she also felt responsible for lighting his short fuse. She had indeed cussed just to spite him for calling her a nerd. She disliked the word. It implied that she wasn't social enough, which was hardly the case. It also hinted that she was weird around others. She wasn't.

"What will I do with you?" Avery mumbled more to herself and started having her meal. The lamb did taste delicious but her favorite was the side dish – smashed potatoes. By the way that Jon was gulping down the meat; she knew he enjoyed his dinner, too. "Slow down, your plate won't disappear and there are plenty of left overs".

"It is simply that good!" Jon chuckled. "It melts right in my mouth!"

Avery shook her head. It was times like this that she strived for when helping others overcome whatever sorrow and pain they had endured. He was relaxed, calm and taking pleasure in simple things in life. The murderous aura he so easily donned was gone and he was more of an overgrown pup than a dangerous Rogue. He was currently docile and she knew that it was the ideal time to push him for more answers. He would easily admit anything at this moment.

The only question was if she really wanted to get involved that deeply into his life.

"I can see you still have much gusto for home cooked meals. How long has it been?" Avery asked before she could change her mind. She wasn't going to miss the moment. No ifs or what ifs. She was going to hold the bull by its horns even if it ended up tearing her apart.

"Are you trying to interrogate me?" He glanced at her, reading her intentions so easily.

Damn, he got her.

Avery 5: Rogue 2.

"Nope. Just trying to estimate how much of that relish for a home a cooked meal is solely because of my cooking. If you haven't eaten home-cooked food in a while, anything will taste delicious because you would have missed it," Avery explained trying to pass it as a bare interest in his appreciation for her food.

"About half a year." He replied shortly.

"Six months on fast food?" She casually inquired.

"Fresh kills" He corrected her and she tried not to gasp.

His admission startled her.

Avery 6: Rogue 2.

While it was theoretically possible for him to have chosen his wolf form to hunt and eat, she highly doubted that he would have bothered shifting back to his human once his hunger was stated. The implications of being a lone were-wolf in shifted form were endless. Something traumatic must have happened to him in order for his wolf to take over and shelter his human side.

***

Jonathan

"You really don't know when to stop nudging, do you?" Jon asked her as soon as he realized the implications of what he had just said. He had flat out admitted that he had been trapped in his wolf form for six months. Damn, she was really good at casually making him disclose all of his secrets.

While he admired his uncle, Frank Heinsfeld, for being the Lead Interrogator of Pack Law and often acknowledged Marcus as potential replacement for the post, Jonathan never really gave much thought about the artfulness of the developing that skill. Because let's face it, it was an Art. You not only had to be gifted to have a way with words, but you also had to have a sharp brain to anticipate reactions, place verbal ruses, profile and know which tool in your Interrogator's tool box you can use to allow the truth to surface. It was not a simple a matter of beating down a prisoner. A tortured body and a broken soul would tell you anything you want to make the pain stop. It was the Interrogator who possessed wit and was cunning enough to trick you in admitting truths yourself were what Pack Law so highly treasured.

It was obvious, that should Avery need any money to supplement her jewelry business; she could always contract Pack Law and use her incredible insight to keep her business afloat. Where enhanced interrogation tactics would have never succeeded, the little redhead had managed to ferret out a secret or two that he was adamant to keep. And what weapon had she used? A couple of exquisite meals!

Damn, I am going soft! Jonathan thought.

The most interesting part of it all was the Jon actually didn't mind her knowing he had gone off the wagon. While he was still not ready to tell her the reason behind his mental breakdown, he definitely didn't object letting her know how truly dangerous he could be. He could easily snap again and it would be best if she knew it.

Maybe that would make her stop irritating him so much!

"You really have a way with words!" Jon admitted. "For a jewelry maker you are remarkably skillful at making me talk about my feelings. Are you sure you are not a part-time Psychiatrist?"

"Us, she-wolves, love to talk! About anything and everything!" She causally dismissed the topic.

Jon chuckled, shaking his head. For someone who could easily manipulate him to reveal more than he was ready to, she was surprisingly bad at hiding her own agenda. Her face said it all. She was meddling in others' lives more often than not because she was utterly curious.

"You know you can't fool me? You're up to your elbows in other people's business on daily basis. So if not a psychiatrist, then a doctor?" Jon started analyzing her behavior. "No, you freaked out from just a couple of drops of your own blood. Maybe a teacher? Educator of sorts? Yeah, that will give you the access to unlimited subjects. The real question is why do you do it?"

The smile that spread on her lips was enough to confirm that he was close to the truth.

"So you are not just a pretty face!" She chuckled shaking her head.

He could hear the dose of admiration in her voice but that thought quickly got replaced by the more pressing one – she thought of him as pretty?! He grinned at her. If she thought he would not pay attention to her compliment, she was surely going to be disappointed.

"It took you long enough to admit it!" Jon smirked.

"A handsome face is not a personal accomplishment, my dear, but rather a matter of good genes!" Avery smiled brightly at him, trying to downplay her compliment.

What she didn't know was that she had unintentionally struck a nerve. Even though that Jonathan knew he looked nothing like Pablo Alvarez, he had to cringe at the thought of sharing any genes with the maggot.

The sad truth was that he did and that had not stopped Jon from tearing into the flesh of his biological father.

His expression most certainly darkened which prompted Avery's eyes to widen in concern.

"Shoot. I am sorry!" She quickly said, reaching out to his hand.

His eyes snapped at the way her palm covered his fist and he quickly relaxed his hand underneath hers. As he did that he noticed the blood that was already seeping from his palm. His claws must have come out to when he had thought about the massacre that he had left behind.

Avery swiftly turned his hand palm up and sighed, tugging him towards her bathroom. Jon silently followed her and observed her as she placed his hand under the running water, washing the blood off the gash in his palm. He had to admit the cold water felt good against his hand and he found a wicked sense of comfort, seeing the pink water run down the drain.

They called it bloodlust. Those who suffered from it were hardly coherent and usually died shortly thereafter. Jonathan needed to talk, to distract himself from the vile thoughts that were running through his head.

His eyes snapped at Avery and freely roamed through her body. The poor thing was so absorbed into tending to his wound that she didn't notice the pure lust that Jon had no doubt was written all over his face. After all bloodlust could only be sated with murderous thoughts and actions or lecherous ones. And he had no doubt in his heart which ones he would rather experience. He wanted to lose himself into her small body.

The liquid, she spilled over his hand, made him hiss and snap his attention to their joint hands. She was really the mothering type, fretting over him as if he was a pup. She knew that his hand would heal in a day, but still took care of it as he was a mere human. A warm feeling started bubbling in his heart as he recognized her action. She was caring for him. It has been such a long time since anyone had cared for him that he decided to savor the moment and let her do as she pleased.

His mind continued analyzing her. If Jon had to guess her job, he would say she was a nurse. A very sexy nurse at that! He grinned as his imagination stripped her out of her current clothes and gave her nothing but a white lab coat that barely covered her bottom, exposing those long legs that he knew she hid. While he was at it, he decided to give her a nice set of white, high heeled, knee-high boots. That would give her not only height that she needed to match his tall frame, but all together a different nerdy type of sex-appeal that would totally suit her. Since he was feeling exceptionally generous, he would allow her to have a stethoscope around her neck and accentuating the v-neck opening, revealing much more cleavage than proper.

Being under her care just got ten times sweeter!

***

Avery

"There you go!" Avery said as she finished attending to his wound, her eyes traveling from his hand to his chest and up to his face. The moment she locked eyes with him, he bent down, pulling her into his chest until she found her nose pressed into the hard planes of his torso, in what seemed to be a thank you hug. She chuckled at his reaction and awkwardly patted his back.

"You'll be just fine!" She mumbled into his chest in encouragement.

He chuckled and as he released her, his lips brushing against her cheek and planting a chaste kiss.

"Thank you for reminding me how it feels like to be looked after," he told her and then swiftly left her stunned and alone in the bathroom.

Avery watched him walk away and couldn't help but fan herself. It has only been a kiss on her cheek, but boy had made her feel very warm... and flushed. He was quite a fine specimen and his unexpected tender side surely managed to stir her insides with desire for more.

She was puzzled. Why was a peck kiss suddenly making her feel all kinds of crazy?!

Deciding to dissect her own feelings later, her focus shifted again on him. He not only said thank you but also subconsciously confirmed her suspicion. He had been hurt by a very close relative! Avery cringed remembering the dark glow his face had acquired as soon as she had said "genes". So it was a very close relative. A parent. Her mind quickly sorted through their conversations so far. She had unintentionally questioned his mother's teaching and he had not reacted as sharply.

So that only left his father.

He had done something to provoke Jon's anger. She wanted to beat the shit out of the man who had managed to hurt his son so deeply. Such people didn't deserve to be called parents! Alas, his father was a sore subject for him that she didn't want to pick on just yet. He needed time to overcome it and she was going to allow him that much! Now that she knew what was wrong with him she could fix it. It was only a matter of time before he opened up and confessed to her what really brought his wolf to the front for such a long time. Then she could help him face his father and reunite him with his family and pack. Or if he preferred he could stay with her for as long as he wanted. Knowing that he was not the typical Rogue that she was dealing with, but a tormented soul, made her relax. She had been right from the start – he was not a vicious scamp, but wounded pup that needed a steady environment, support and love to mend his life.

Avery mentally made a note to herself not to provoke him in regards to his family. His falling out with his father must have been traumatic enough to cause him to revert to his wolf for protection. If only she could let it go! Her curiosity had spiked and unlike other times when she could reign herself in, she wanted to figure out whatever there was that tormented Jon and fix him.

When she finally joined him in the living room, she noticed that he had already finished his dinner as his plate was sitting empty on the small coffee table. She looked at her half-eaten plate and sighed. She had lost her appetite. She picked up the plates, carrying them into the kitchenette.

She wrapped her plate leaving it in the fridge. She would eat it later. Throwing perfectly good food in the trash was not an option in her household. Not that there were too many occasions where she had to think about it. The pups at home were eagerly finishing off their plates and asking for seconds... That reminded her how much she missed all the noise that usually accompanied them. Jon was too surly for his own good.

"Avery, I am bored!" Jon announced and then quickly added, raising his injured hand. "I am also injured so don't even think about bossing me around!"

She almost chuckled at his assumption that she would find him a chore to do. It was true that the cottage needed work, but she doubted that he was skillful enough to be used as a handyman.

"I have cable..." she suggested, walking into the living room.

"You sure it survived the blizzard outside?" He skeptically asked.

"The electricity did", she shrugged and silently walked over to the basket where she kept all the remotes. Memories of hot summer days filled with ultimate bliss and laughter flooded her mind. The video games lying on the bookcase were all the evidence she needed to remember the good time. A whole Era that sometimes seemed like it never really happened. Her thoughts went out her sisters. What were they doing? Were they mated by now? Did she have little nieces and nephews that she knew nothing about? How she wanted to see her family again! However, the conditions of her exile were stern for a reason. She sighed. She would never go back if that meant bringing harm to their doorstep.

She returned to the only couch in the room with a heavy heart, sitting next to her house guest. Helping him mend his life was going to be the challenge she needed to keep herself from wanting impossible things.

Her fingers slid from the handles of the basket to the remotes nicely tugged into it. Her lips pressed into a tight line as Avery tried to decipher which remote was the one she needed. Reluctantly she admitted, "There are only half a dozen remotes here, it wouldn't be so hard to figure out which one turns it", she said loudly, reassuring herself as she glanced at the stash of controls.

"She-wolves!" He muttered and quickly pulled one of the remotes which surprisingly turned TV right away. Then he reached for another remote and started changing the channels.

She grinned at the ease with which he was adjusting to being human again. Indulging into simple activities such as TV or technology was usually the last thing that won pups over to stay in their human side. He was so absorbed into the TV screen that he had completely forgotten about her. She smirked at the progress that he was making and reached out for Devenheart's book.

She had her own hobby to indulge herself into.

*

"What? I am cold" He moved as he settled down under the blanket with her, throwing the control in the control basket with an amazing precision without so much as looking at it. He stretched his long legs and popped them up on the coffee table in front of the couch. Avery raised her eyebrow and continued reading. "Oh, come on, smarty-pants. Give the book a break!"

As Avery chose to remain silent, he continued in a playful tone, "It's time for you to gloat. I just realized you made me turn the TV on, so I wouldn't bother you while you read your book! You are wicked smart!" He complained and then quickly shook his head at her determined face to stay calm and collected.

"You're busted, even if it took me an hour to figure it out!" He admitted.

She tried to suppress her grin. Yeah, it took him a while to figure out her devious plan. Who said she had lost her touch?

Avery 7 : Rogue 2.

Not that she was keeping score, of course.

She grinned.

He was a challenge all right.

"TV could last only this long. I am going out of my mind so you better talk to me, or I will throw your book in the fireplace!" He warned her with a mocking tone, then quickly glared at her book, adding much sternly, "Don't think I wouldn't...".

***

Jonathan

"Fine, let's talk. What's up with your bipolar mood today? There's no talking to you that wouldn't end in commands or blood with you!" Avery questioned. It was only a matter of time before she figured it out. Jon knew she was smart like that.

"You are not the one to preach, dear." He smugly told her. "You fired up like a firecracker, too. Now what's up with that?"

"I have a short fuse?" She asked, only to make him chuckle. She laughed with him. The dimples that formed on her cheeks raised his blood pressure again.

"Fine, apology accepted because I am so cool", he winked at her and offered, "Seal it with a kiss?"

"A what now?" She asked confused.

"A kiss. You have been kissed before, haven't you?" He asked intrigued and then quickly chuckled at her flushed face. "So you do know what I am talking about! Great!" He clapped his hands and then proposed, "Let's make out".

"In your dreams!" Avery stood up and was going walk away, while he quickly snatched her hand, stopping her retreat.

"We can do more than make out. I wouldn't mind somethin'-somethin', too" He smiled brightly. Yeah, sex was the perfect and most enjoyable way to release his frustration and calm his wolf. It has been a while. More than a while, actually and Jonathan needed to prove to himself and his wolf that Juliet Grey was out of their life forever. The gorgeous she-wolf that he was already panting after was the ideal solution to his problem. "As I remember you felt quite good in the morning!"

"Do you get off at trying to rattle me or is this your charming personality that you were referring to earlier by you don't know shit about me?" She quickly retorted.

"You can't be seriously mad at me for being honest with you", he pointed out and then shrugged. "It's true, you don't know shit about me. But right now that is not as important. We are adults and I am offering you a snuggle, a cuddle, a one night stand, a bootie call, a tousle or two – however you want to call it, I am in."

That would take his mind off things.

Taking her silence as consideration not a flat out refusal, he proceeded, "It doesn't have to mean more than two adults having some fun!"

"Yeah, that's not happening," Avery shook her head at him. Maybe he had misread her silence. He released her hand and for his surprise she actually stayed rooted in her place. He ran his hand through his short hair and applied, "I've been called insensitive, too. Sorry."

"That's putting it mildly."

"I said sorry, all right?" He raised his voice at her. "I got it. We ain't happening. I am apologizing in case you haven't noticed."

"If you hate apologizing so much, you better not do stuff you need to apologize for!" She also raised her voice at him.

She had a point and it was kind of ironic how she had actually figured out that he disliked admitting he was wrong.

"Truce?" He offered and extended his hand.

"Friends?" She shook his hand.

"Oh, I thought we were so much more," he winked at her, only for her to growl at him. She even went so far as to try to flip him off. He quickly snatched her hand, placing his palm against hers and stopping the rude gesture. "Avery, if you turn me down you are not allowed to give me the bird right after. I am still sore from your rejection!" His tone was joking, but his eyes said it all. Attempt to do that again and there will be severe consequences. Something in her did not want to push him, but the human was defying his previous order not to cuss.

"Fine, only because you ask so nicely!" She spat at him.

She had no choice in the matter and they both knew it. His command was still preventing her to utilize cuss words. It was almost comical to see how she tried to fight his Command. She did have guts. Jonathan smirked as he recognized her as a strong opponent who wouldn't just submit to him, even if he had utilized some of his Royal Command over her.

"Then in such case... My offer stands so whenever you want to jump my bones, feel free to do so!" Jon informed her, flashing a confident smile.

Damn, he never had to work this hard to get laid. Was he losing his touch or was she the problem?

"And here I thought you had some manners!" She huffed at him.

Jonathan knew he did have the manners, she was so adamant of installing in his demeanor. The thing that the temperamental redhead didn't know was that he chose very carefully when to implement the so-said manners. It wouldn't serve his reputation of a Pack Law Assassin any good if his manners became public knowledge. He would much rather be considered a cold brute than a high rank officer of Pack Law familiar even with the finest court-etiquette.

Jonathan decided to let her have fun scheming ways to reeducate him. That would be entertaining to witness and mayhap even keep her away from her book. She really needed to get out of the confinement of indoor spaces.

"So what's for dessert then?" Jon taunted her. If she wasn't his dessert, then he was allowed to ask for something sweet and sugary. For a second there, he was sure she would make him regret ever asking her that question, as her face flushed in fierce crimson as the hidden meaning registered in her mind.

Not interested? His ass.

The blush on her cheeks said it all. Just like him, she had been tempted to sample him, too, but was too much of a chicken to openly admit it.

She was a sweetheart all right.

"What do you want?" She tried keeping her voice friendly and easy going but Jon quickly recognized how out of breath her voice sounded, even if she had said only four words.

"Seriously? You'd cook for me?" Jon was surprised at her transformation. The redhead was surely not going to give up this easily. Did he finally manage to piss her off enough to consider poisoning his food?

"Why would you assume it would only be for you? I would eat, too!" Avery was outraged.

"I didn't. I merely surprised you'd cook something that I want. It's really nice of yours..." He stated. Despite what Avery thought, Jonathan was not a complete jerk.

"It's not like I can run to the supermarket to buy fancy ingredients so you better keep it simple," she warned him and walked over to the kitchen.

She agreed to cook for him!

Them, Jon corrected himself.

Who was he to argue with that?

He quickly followed her into the kitchen.

"Crème caramel," he almost shouted his request. She shook her head as she walked to the mini fridge. "You don't know how to do it?" He asked disappointed.

"Do you know how to boil an egg? Of course, I know how to prepare it!" Avery grabbed the eggs and milk and put them on the counter.

"Then why did you shake your head no?" Jon asked, holding his anger in check. She almost had him!

"Gee, could you act more like a spoilt brat or what?" She huffed rolling her eyes at him.

"What's wrong with crème caramel?" He asked offended.

"Nothing. It's just...." Avery started and then sighed. "Forget it. We'll have a crème caramel for dessert".

"If I am blunt with you, then you should feel free to do the same. I don't mind".

"You don't?" Avery chuckled.

"Try me," Jon challenged.

"Fine, but remember you asked for it", Avery started and he nodded his acceptance. "Your choice of food and in this particular case a dessert points out things for you. The way you passionately defended your choice reminded me of a tantrum that a pup will throw and crème caramel is usually a preferred dessert for pups, who don't drink their milk or eat their cheese." Jon was about to protest and she raised her hand, "You asked for it, so hear me out. It also helps that it is easy and relatively quick to prepare. It makes it the ideal go-to-dessert in any household. People who like it are usually like the dessert – easy going and not pretentious. You, my friend, are prickly. When given the chance, I would have thought you'd go with something very complex and extravagant."

"You are right. I didn't drink milk when I was younger..." He chuckled at the way she explained how his mother had successfully managed to feed him gallons of milk disguised as a dessert. She had managed to surround him with so much love that he had taken for granted until it was taken from him. "We never ran out of it. Guess I have to thank ma' for my impressive built!" Jonathan tried to lighten the mood, but by the look of compassion on Avery's face, he knew she had seen through it all.

Jonathan was quickly reverting to his defenses, expecting more probing questions at his confession.

"And for your thick skull!" She added, dropping the subject and successfully making him chuckle.

"That too!" Jon smiled openly at her. It was the only way he knew how he could thank Avery for agreeing to change the subject. "So what's your favorite dessert?"

"Tiramisu." She replied.

"And what does it say about you other than you like coffee?" Jon asked her.

"So you have tasted finer desserts," Avery teased him, giggling at him.

"Elaborate, not necessary finer!" Jon corrected her.

"Tiramisu is an Italian dessert. Let's face it; Italians know a thing or two about finer things in life!" Avery retorted.

"You just did not intentionally make me feel insignificant by disclosing that you find Italians sexy!" Jonathan flirtatiously pouted at her, making Avery blush at his implication.

He still wanted her.

"I love their cuisine." She responded hiding a smile from him.

"Now, spill what else is there to Tiramisu that you find irresistible?" Jon asked.

"It's light and not overly sugary, and as you pointed out it has coffee in it." Avery smiled.

"You're drooling!" Jon laughed openly.

"Of course I am. Tiramisu is heavenly!" Avery almost moaned in defense of her dessert.

"So I am a spoilt brat for wanting crème caramel, and you're wanton for Tiramisu! We're quite a match!" Jon concluded and she just shrugged.

"Yeah, call it as you want, but we both know my dessert is sexier!" She winked at him, not giving up.

"You can only wish, girlie." Jon teased her.

As the easy going banter died down, Avery couldn't help but ask, "Jon, what happened to you?"

"What do you mean?" Jonathan quickly sobered up.

"Between your passion for crème caramel that rivals that of a six year old and proposition me like a random lay, I begin to worry about you. Do you want to talk to me about whatever happened to you?" She finally asked.

Jonathan knew exactly what she was asking him, but chose to ignore it and respond to the first part of her statement.

"You took offense?" He sighed and then continued with a steady voice, "It was never my intention to offend you. I am not good with words and sometimes things sound better in my head than when I actually say them. In my defense, we both need to release some frustration. You need to live a little instead of trying to carry yourself on that high horse of yours and I am a healthy male in my prime. Of course, it's a matter of time before I make a move on you and we hook up!" He told her confidently, trying to throw her off the real question that she had just asked.

"So you were doing both of us a favor?"

"Yeah, exactly! It's only a matter of time for us to hook up between my charming personality and your beauty. It's inevitable!" Jon flirted, making her chuckle at him and shake her head in disagreement. Jon didn't stop and continued, "Maybe my move wasn't as smooth as I thought it would be, but you do know that you are attractive, right? You smell good. You are smart, a little too uptight, but that's fixable and you are a hell of a cook. Among all the people I know, I would always pick you to be stuck with me in a snow-storm, even if you irritate the heck out of me! Now, maybe I would want a better grocery supply and a pair of ear plugs. You know, you raise your voice too often! But who am I to complain?"

"So I smell nice because I can cook and you will tolerate me because you want to be fed", Avery summarized giggling at his confession.

Jonathan looked at her. She did leave out that she had nice, rounded breasts and a nice perky ass, but he was not going to be the one to tell her how much he did enjoy her curves.

Despite his better judgment, he nodded.

"Well, let's not forget that you find me irresistible, but not as much as a Tiramisu and I think that should sum it up!" Jon flirted with her making her cheeks brighter. Her contagious laughter was the last thing he expected and he might as well join in.

****

There you have it. My two sweethearts are both very perceptive and are trying to outwit each other. Avery know is zoning into Jonathan's main issue - his father figure. Only if she knew that his mate is to blame for his state of mind. And Jonathan is more than aware that she needs to stop reading and live a little. Who do you think will acutally help the other heal faster?

You'll know soon enough... Until then, any thoughts and suggestions are more than welcome. Also as always - if you see a mistake, mark it. I really suck at editing my own work!

Xoxo,

SteamyHot

PS. I love tiramisu, so you better not say anything bad to say about it! Or I'll let Jon beat you up... and nope, not in the good way... ~wink~wink .... Just sayin'.... :)