Werewolves of Forever 06 - Wild Lust

called her “big sis” in a very long time. She waited, willing to hear her out. “What?”
    “Take the day to get to know Daniel and Anderson. If you do, you’ll see how good they are. You’ll see how happy I am. Do this for me, and, if you still want me to, I’ll go home with you.”

Chapter Nine
    Charlie tried to dislike Daniel and Anderson Holms, but the longer she stayed around them, the more she grew to like them. They were strong, funny, outgoing men who adored her sister. Whether they were near her or not, their gazes would shift toward Shannon and a smile would come over their faces.
    The love was mutual. Shannon glowed whenever they came near her. She found every opportunity to graze her palm over Daniel’s chest and follow it with a touch on Anderson’s shoulder. Neither man appeared jealous and even seemed happy for the other. Shannon’s excitement for each man practically sizzled in the air.
    Charlie couldn’t help but compare her sister’s relationship with the Holms men to her parents’ relationship. Instead of cold, unfeeling glances, their gazes were filled with love and desire. Instead of quarreling, they gave each other soft kisses and murmured words that brought joy to Shannon’s face. Instead of talking about business and the stock market, Daniel and Anderson made jokes that had Shannon laughing so hard she had tears running down her face. If Lloyd and Dorris Newman had given each other one-tenth the love she saw between Shannon and her men, maybe she and her sisters would’ve grown up happier and more confident in the belief that love could last a lifetime.
    She sighed. There were too many “ifs” to think about. What good did it do anyway?
    The men wanted to stay outside and enjoy the weather, so they pulled steaks, hamburger, and hot dogs out of the huge refrigerator in the bright, sunny kitchen. Just like Blane and Reese, the men consumed large quantities of food and drank more than a gallon each of sweet tea.
    Charlie sat in a recliner, amazed to be so relaxed near two men who were werewolves. She drank her tea and watched them, but more times than not, she’d find her attention straying to catch Reese staring at her or Blane tossing her a quick grin. They made her feel comfortable when she should’ve been anxious and on edge. Weren’t they looking at her the way the Holms men looked at Shannon? She tingled just thinking about spending a lifetime with Reese and Blane.
    “Charlie?”
    She shaded her eyes with her hand and followed the long, lean body standing in front her. Daniel held his hands up, palms out.
    “Don’t shoot. I’m unarmed.” He opened his mouth, drawing his lips back to show his teeth. “See? No fangs.”
    Was he the same man she’d shot twice? If so, he was more forgiving than she’d ever be. He sank onto the lounge beside her.
    “I’m glad you came to see Shannon.”
    She looked into his earnest face. “I am, too.”
    “So, are we the horrible monsters you thought we were?”
    She couldn’t tell if he was joking or not and decided to play it safe. “The jury’s still out. But at least I’m not afraid you’re going to hurt my sister.”
    He shifted to face her. “Hurting Shannon would be the last thing I’d ever do. She’s my life.”
    A lump formed in Charlie’s throat at his simple declaration of love. Glancing past him, she watched as Reese caught Blane in a headlock, playfully tussling like two overgrown boys. Would either Reese or Blane ever say the same about her?
    “I don’t understand. How can you live as a werewolf?”
    He tilted his head at her. Did everyone in Forever have that same habit?
    “I know it’s difficult for you to get, but Anderson and I were born werewolves. To ask me how I can live like a werewolf is like me asking you how you can live as a woman.”
    She shook her head. “It’s not the same thing. I don’t change into White Fang’s distant cousin whenever there’s a full moon.”
    Daniel laughed, drawing the attention of her men, Anderson, and Shannon. Her men? She’d only dared to think of the Rawlins brothers as her men this morning, and yet the phrase already came to her so easily.
    “First, we can change any time we want to and not just during a full moon. In fact, if I wanted to, I could change right this minute.” He held up his hands, palms out again. “Don’t worry. I won’t.”
    “So why did you change the other day? Blane and Reese were afraid you’d come after me.”
    He bowed his