Free Saving Grace by Anita Cox Page A

blushing.
    “That’s not a personal question. My boyfriend is Fae. They don’t bond in the same way Lycan’s do.” She started dusting more makeup on Grace’s face.
    “Is that common?”
    Carissa laughed. “Not around here. No. But Colin has had no objections and has promised not to force a Lycan mate on me. I’m happy and he’s happy that I’m happy. That’s what a good Alpha does.”
    She had so many questions she wanted to ask. What about babies? Would they be pups? How did Fae bond? She remembered something in the books the vampires gave her but the information just would not come to the front of her mind.
    The questions seemed invasive, so she kept them to herself.
    “I have a lot to learn. I’m sorry if this has been awkward.” Wiping her sweaty palms on her robe was all she could do to hide her nerves. The embarrassment of not knowing who and what you are was overwhelming at times. How many people can say they don’t know their own culture?
    Carissa laughed. “Not at all. It’s refreshing. Lycan women aren’t usually this open with each other. But now it’s my turn. Are you banging Roman?”
    Grace’s eyelids flew open. She didn’t know if it was the abruptness with which Carissa had asked such a question, or if it was the fact she referred to what she and Roman had as ‘banging.’
    “Uh, yeah.” She managed to choke the words out.
    “That explains why he has dialed down the cranky pants. You should get an award or something.”
    Grace smiled. There was something about Carissa she liked. The woman stood in motorcycle boots and fake leather pants while she made Grace look like a beauty queen. The woman’s black hair was spikey. She looked intimidating but hot, like a dominatrix. She was sure of herself—something she didn’t notice often in Lycan women.
    “Well…banging him is reward enough.” She mange to say the words with a straight face but when Carissa burst into laughter, she followed suit.
    “I always wondered. Man just has a swagger about him.”
    She applied mascara before taking Grace’s hair out of the rollers. After some brushing, pinning and spraying Grace took a look in the mirror. “Wow!”
    “You’ll be knockin’ boots tonight for sure!” She tossed her things into her bag and latched it closed.
    “I don’t even recognize myself.”
    “It’s you—just the hot you.” She patted Grace on the shoulder. “Better go put your dress on. We leave in twenty minutes.”
    Grace looked at the clock. “Oh my God. Do you have enough time to get ready? I mean, I hope I didn’t take too long.”
    She put her hand up. “I got it. My hair is short and easy. I just have to touch up the face and change clothes. It’s okay. I’m using Tiffany’s bathroom.”
    She nodded. “Great. Thank you.” She turned and looked in the mirror, barely recognizing the reflection staring back at her. Carissa had given her a dark smoky eye that made her eyeballs look bigger, brighter, and seductive.
    Other than that, her makeup was subtle. Her cheekbones were perfectly blushed while the hollow under was barely darkened, making her face look leaner, stronger, yet feminine.
    Her light brown hair was a mix of pinned up but mussed. Softly tousled but in a very well organized kind of way. She stood with her soft pink lips slightly parted as she gazed at herself.
    She’d never thought of herself as sexy. Not at all. She knew she wasn’t ugly, but never imagined she could look like this.
    Once she managed to snap out of her gaze she hurried to the closet, taking the dress off of the hanger. She pulled a lace out of her boot and stuck it through the zipper tab, holding it onto it while she slipped on her dress, then pulled up on the string, zipping herself without getting a spasm in her shoulder.
    She re-laced her boot, then slipped on her heels. Once she had the jewelry on, she glanced in the mirror again.
    “You are a specimen, Grace. I’m happy to see you appreciating your beauty.” Her