Chapter 1
A Warm Body Suitable For Rubbing Up Against.
“Reading captivates me because it creates a portal to a new world.The act of getting lost in a story provides an escape from everyday life.It helps me uncover more of what my own life has to offer.It also gives me a way to forget my own issues and insecurities… which, let’s be honest, are many and varied.”~Lola
“Is the werewolf dude ravishing the damsel in distress yet?”Lola looked up from her book to see Katy strolling into her room, without bothering to knock, as usual.“Or maybe they don’t have time for the ravishing because the leading lady is too busy saving the world.And for some reason, this chick can kick the ass of even the strongest supernatural being, though nobody knows why.And the male lead is really only allowed to be her sidekick because he’s eye candy, and provides her with a warm body to rub up against?”
Lola sighed and dropped her current, literary fix into her lap.The cover landed face up.She quickly flipped it over when she noticed the picture on the front: a shirtless dude holding a hot chick.The woman must have been acting as his jacket based on how tightly she was wrapped around him.Good grief, couldn’t they just put a flipping wolf on the cover instead?Such a scene would only spur Katy on in her need to tease Lola over her love of the supernatural– paranormal-romances, to be exact.
“Why are you here?”Lola asked.
Katy flopped onto her bed with an exaggerated sigh.Please, make yourself at home.Lola was prone to the somewhat troublesome habit of speaking to herself, and frequently, her face gave away her inner thoughts.This sometimes made for an uncomfortable, and slightly awkward, scenario.“We have to be at work in an hour.”As she spoke, Katy rolled her striking, nearly translucent, gray eyes and casually brushed a hand through her naturally-wavy, mahogany hair.That I’m totally not jealous of.But if I was, I would never admit it.Lola’s own hair was neck-length and orange spattered through with streaks of blonde highlights.It drew attention to her, but it was her skin that captured more attention.Just not the kind a girl wants.Her skin was a two-tone tapestry of peach and paler pigmentation, courtesy of her vitiligo.“You were so absorbed with Talon Hunter that you’ve completely lost track of time,” Katy chided.
Lola’s brow rose.“Who in the world is Talon Hunter?”
Her friend rolled to her back and pulled her legs up, resting her feet on the bed.“No doubt some hunky werewolf, fairy, or vampire in your book.”She pointed to the book in question without bothering to look away from the spot she stared at on the ceiling.
Why can’t I like horror books or rom-coms?“His name is not Talon Hunter.”Lola slapped the book down onto her desk.
“Maybe not, but itissome ridiculously masculine name that makes girls want to swoon.Or so the author thinks, am I right?”Katy turned her head and grinned at Lola.“Tell me I’m wrong.”Her voice took on an almost musical quality.
Loladid notwant to admit to her bratty BFF that she was right.Even if she was.“I need to take a quick shower.”Lola stood, ignoring Katy’s taunting.“You stay out of the bathroom and don’t touch my things.”
Katy gasped, pressing her hand to her chest.“I can’t believe you would assume I would violate your privacy in such a way.”
Lola rolled her eyes.“You would, and you have.”She grabbed clothes from her dresser and headed for the bathroom.Without turning around, she said, “I’m serious, Katy.I will cut you if you touch my stuff.”
“You realize you have anger issues, right?Andyou’rethe curious one of our trio.Maddie and I totally mind our own business.”
Lola scoffed.“Mind your own business?You have no boundaries.You seem to think our businessisyour business.”
“That’s because it is, Heifer.BFF Contract, page 215, Amendment 15 (g).”Katy’s voice sounded so serious that a stranger would probably believe there actually was a BFF Contract.There wasn’t.At least, not that Lola knew of.Then again, it wouldn’t be out of character for Katy to draft some official-looking document and insist that Lola and Maddie comply with its fanciful regulations, or face her fury.
I love my best friend.I love my best friend.Lola silently chanted as she shut the door and turned the lock.Katy was known to simply walk in, sit on the counter and start chit-chatting while she showered.“No boundaries,” she muttered.Lola might be the curious one of them, but Katy was the nosy one.And therewasa difference.
Lola walked out of the bathroom dressed with her hair pulled up.She sported a light dusting of make-up on her face.She’d given up trying to cover the marbled skin once it moved down her neck and arms.Katy was still laying on her bed, but her friend was no longer simply staring at the ceiling.Instead, she had her nose in Lola’s book.I can’t kill my best friend.It’s not appropriate and is usually frowned upon by social media sites that do those crime documentaries.Not always frowned upon, but usually.
“I knew it!”Katy tossed the book aside, threw a fist in the air, and whooped like an idiot.“Xander Felix, otherwise known as Zan to his pack.”Katy snickered as she stood up.“I’ll admit, it’s a sexy name.It definitely has a better ring to it than something like…Billwhen the damsel-slash-badass chick moans it in the throes of passion.‘Oh Bill, give me more,’” she said in a high, breathy voice.“Nope, no ring.But Xander?That’s the name of a beast that makes you scream.Paronomasia intended.”
“I hate you,” Lola said dryly.“And your love of ridiculously obscure words.”
Katy laughed, wrapping an arm around Lola’s neck.“No, you don’t.And you love my Words of the Day because you get to look them up, feeding your Curiosity Monster.”
Okay, so maybe I do love the Word of the Day.But that doesn’t mean I can’t hate her at the same time.I’m great at multitasking.
“Come on, my curious little cat,” Katy pulled her through her bedroom door.“Let’s go sell some pizza and get hit on by firefighters and construction workers.Maybe one of them will have a dark and mysterious name that you can moan in your dreams tonight.If we meet a Xander today, he’s getting your number immediately.”
Lola tried to shove Katy away, but the woman held on tighter than a leech while she laughed.“One day, I’m going to maim you.And no one will blame me,” Lola said through gritted teeth.
“As long as I can moan a different name while you maim me.Maybe I’ll call you Kitty instead of Lola while you touch me.No offense, BFF, but Lola is just not sexy.Your last name, though.That kicks ass.”
Lola pinched the skin on Katy’s side.“My last name is Katz, not Kitty, Butthead.”Maybe I can put an ad out for a new best friend?That wouldn’t be weird at all.SWF seeks another single female for best friendship.No strange sex stuff, please.Okay, so it’s totally weird.
Katy sighed.“Yeah, your parents missed the boat on that one.Kitty Katz would have been a much cooler name for you.”
Lola swiveled her head to glare at Katy as they headed for the front door.She didn’t need to tell her parents she was leaving because they’d both already left for their own jobs.“That sounds like a porn star's name.”
“Right!”Katy finally dropped her arm when Lola turned to lock the apartment door.“You’d be mind-blowing as a porn star, in more ways than one, considering everything you learn from your fictitious boy-toys like Xander the wolf lover.Has he taught you how to make a wolf howl in ecstasy, scratch his itch, pet his pelt—”
