Page 36 of Taming of a Wolf

“Oh, come on, Anders. It’ll be fun. Trust me, once they get past your scowling face and horrendous personality, they’ll love you. At least stay for one drink.”

“Very well.” Anders leans in, and his lips tickle my ear. “I expect a reward for my good behavior later.”

Noticing Bailey arching a teasing brow, I shove Anders away. “Later, when we’re alone.”

I can’t wait for tonight.

At home that evening, I get ready for our night out. I squeeze into my sluttiest jeans, super tight and just barely covering my ass crack. A sheer top that displays my pierced nipples completes the look. Anders will definitely appreciate this. We went shopping for him on our way home. He seriously needed some more modern clothes.

It’s cold tonight, but we’ll mostly be in the car or inside the bar, so I finish the outfit off with some boots and a leather jacket. Jess usually helps me add some dark, dramatic eyeshadow, but we’ll have to do that at the bar since I’m awful with makeup. I always make myself look like a goth clown without her expert touch.

Anders is lounging on the sofa in the living room. He’s wearing the new clothes I bought him: a leather jacket like mine, tight ripped jeans that hang low on his hips, and a V-cut shirt that hugs his luscious pecs. I want to climb him like a damn tree.

“Hey. Ready to go?”

His eyes go wide at the sight of me, and he lurches off the couch. “By the gods. It’s as if you’re wearing nothing at all.” He sounds absolutely scandalized, his hungry green eyes roaming every inch of my body. “I can practically see your… your…”

“Penis?” I add helpfully. “These pantsareawfully tight.” I give them a hike up so the fabric hugs my crotch even more.

He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I can’t let you out of the house dressed like that. Every man in that place will be all over you.”

Prowling over to him, I run my hand between his pecs and up to grip his chin, hauling him close so I can say against his lips, “I guess you’ll have to protect me, then, puppy dog.”

He growls low in his throat. “I’ll tear the arms off any man who touches you and flog them to death with them.”

“Easy there, fella.”

Anders leans in, then pauses. A curious frown puckers his brow as he runs a hand along my hip. “What’s this?”

All the desire heating my blood evaporates because I know exactly what he’s asking about. His thumb brushes above my hip, tracing a scar I’ve tried so hard to forget about. Anders drops his gaze, and suddenly, I feel naked and vulnerable.

“How did you get this?” Anders asks, voice low and dangerous. “Who did this to you?”

I laugh because it’s not a who, it’s awhat,and I can’t go there. Not tonight, not ever. If I let myself think about how I got it, then I won’t be able to leave the house tonight.

“Nobody,” I answer. “It was an accident.”

I close my eyes against the sudden flare of headlights and tires screeching in my ears.

“Jamie?”

Sucking in a much-needed gulp of air, I ground myself in the now. Anders is here and he smells amazing and his hands are warm and he looks gorgeous. “I have scars as well,” Anders says. “Sometimes, if I press too hard on one, it aches. If my questions upset you, then… I apologize.”

Forcing a smile, I say, “I’m fine.” I pull out of his touch before I can stop myself. Guilt squeezes my chest. When I find the guts to glance over, hoping I haven’t hurt him, I find Anders frowning at me. “Really, I’m fine. Let’s just have fun tonight, okay?” There’s a desperate edge to my voice I can’t swallow down fast enough.

I need tonight to not be aboutthat.

“Let’s get going, okay? We’ll be late.” I still need to get Jace over to Kate for his sleepover.

I’ve never been good about being vulnerable with anyone. A relationship is more than mushy words and hot sex. When things got real, I bailed and fast. If Anders could see who I truly am when my depression gets really bad, he’d run for the hills.

I zip up my leather jacket so Jace doesn’t tease me mercilessly for what I’m wearing. Also, I don’t want to scar my little brother. Knocking on Jace’s door, I enter when his quiet voice invites me in. He sits on his bed, his knees to his chest. His scent is a whirlwind of anxiety, his little heart skipping in my ears. Kneeling on his bed, I give his knee a tap. “Hey, bud. You okay?”

Jace nods, blinking fast. “Yeah.”

“Hey. Look at me.” When he does, I squeeze his knee. “Are you feeling nervous about my going out tonight?”

His face crumples. “Will you drive?” When I nod, his lips tremble, and he wipes his eyes. My chest clutching with pity, I put my arm around his trembling shoulders.

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