Page 13 of Ravenous

“Of all the places the tree could fall–” My voice grew rough with a ferocious need to run back and protect her all over again. Thinking of what could’ve happened if she’d been crushed beneath the weight of the roof made my wolf crazy. It was a fucking miracle she was mostly unscathed.

“It’s…it’s raining in my house right now.”

“I know. There’s nothing we can do tonight. I pushed the bed out of the way, so there’s nothing under the hole.”

She nodded. “Thank you.” Her voice was soft and sincere.

Fate. Something about the way she said those two words made my throat constrict. Like it meant something to her. Hell, I was wrong about not needing to be the one to comfort her because right now, I sure as fuck did.

“I should have seen it coming,” I said, wanting to punch my own face in. Fuck, I’d stood in my kitchen and purposely decidednotto check on her. “I heard a branch hitting your house, but I never thought–”

“How could anyone see it coming?” Her voice held that hysterical laughter again.

I had most of the rubble picked off her now. A fresh urge–a darker urge–began to war with my need to take care of her now that I’d accomplished that.

I cleared my throat. “Do you want to shower the rest of the mess off?” I tried not to picture myself peeling her out of her cute, very wet pajamas. Stepping into the shower with her and handing her the soap. No, using it myself on her. Checking over every inch of her to make sure she wasn’t hurt. No,licking.

“Yes.” Her voice sounded rusty, too. “Um, that sounds good.”

Right.Move, Wes. Don’t just stand there staring at your beautiful neighbor.

I threw open the cabinet and pulled out a folded towel. At least I’d gotten most things put in place by now and had a grown-up towel to offer her. Although I wouldn’t mind seeing her in just a skimpy towel. And if she wanted to flash me her pussy?

I cleared my throat. “Here you go. I’ll make some hot cocoa.”

Cocoa?Why did I offer that? She wasn’t four years old.

“Or tea? Hell, whiskey?”

She rewarded me with a wobbly smile. “Cocoa sounds heavenly.”

Okay, I wasn’t too off base. I leaned past her to turn on the hot water in the shower then forced myself to leave.

As I stood outside the bathroom door listening to make sure she was okay–that she wasn’t going to pass out and hit her head–I tried not to imagine what she’d look like naked.

I didn’t let myself wonder if her skin tasted as sweet as it smelled.

There was no room in my life for a female.

Besides, everyone knew the human rule–you don’t date your neighbor.

But I wasn’t human, my wolf was telling me.

7

JOY

I stoodunder the hot spray of water. I was still in shock, I had to be. My hands shook as I ran my palms over my arms to rinse off the grit. I felt disconnected from my body. A little spacey.

There were thoughts in my head, but they flitted in and out without connecting.

I forced myself to review what had happened to bring myself back to reality.

I’d been sleeping, but the storm woke me. I’d looked at the clock beside my bed, but it had been dark, so the power must’ve gone out.

Right. How had I not noticed? The power was out at this house, too. That explained why I was showering by candlelight in my hot neighbor’s bathroom. Duh.

Wait.

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