Page 76 of Taming of a Wolf

When I open my eyes, I realize I’ve shifted back to my human form at some point. Anders was right—shifting did help. The disaster that was this morning feels distant, like it happened to someone else. Still upsetting, but my head isn’t fogged anymore.

The room smells like steak, and my stomach roars.

Anders joins me on the couch just as I sit up. Wrapping an arm around me, he scoots close so our thighs are touching. In his lap, he balances a plate full of thinly cut pieces of the sirloin I bought.

“Wow, that looks great!” My mate sure can sear up a decent steak dinner.

Anders huffs. “Wanted to go hunting, but there’s nothing to hunt around here, so I had to use your stove. It’s not as fresh as it would be if I’d caught it myself, but this still counts as hunting,” he says, glaring at me, daring me to challenge him.

“Hey, I didn’t say anything.”

With a pleased little smile, he picks up a bite-sized piece of steak. I open my mouth and let him feed me. It tastes really good. The outside is a nice brown, and the inside is buttery soft and juicy. I moan my approval as I chew.

“More?” Anders grabs another piece.

I frown. “What about Jace?”

“I brought him a plate. He’s watching television in his room. He is safe. Eat, pet.”

I should go check on him… but the scent of the steak is too tempting to resist. When I part my lips, Anders feeds me another bite. Once I’ve swallowed, I say, “What about you?”

“I ate some while I cooked. Don’t worry about me. Eat.”

My cheeks flush. I feel bad for letting him take care of me like this. “Anders—”

A low growl rumbles in his chest. Sighing, I eat another bite. Okay, it’s not exactly torture to let my hot boyfriend nurture me. Have I ever let anyone look after me like this? I search mymemories but come up empty-handed. I always took care of the guys I dated—bought them dinner, took them out, let them spill their sorrows to me. I never asked for anything in return. I’ve never let myself be this vulnerable with another person before.

Anders’s forest-green gaze never strays from me. He’s utterly attentive as he nourishes my body with his home-cooked meal and my battered soul with the warmth of his body blanketed against mine.

Fuck. What have I done to deserve this? Nothing.

“Think I’m full,” I say, unable to eat any more with this painful lump in my throat. I want to go bury myself under my blankets and just lie there, not even to sleep.

Anders puts the plate on the coffee table and licks his fingers clean of any steak residue. Closing my eyes, I lean back against his arm, and he tucks his other arm around my waist. Leaning in, he touches his forehead to mine.

“Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday today?”

My eyes snap open. Wetting my lips, I drop my gaze to my lap. “How’d you know?”

“The lad mentioned it when I brought him dinner. He said that you don’t usually celebrate. Is that true?”

I nod.

“Why don’t you let anyone celebrate?”

Screwing my eyes shut against the rising tide of painful memories, I say, “Because it’s not a day worth celebrating.”

Anders runs his hand up and down my thigh. “Why would you think that?”

I really don’t want to do this… but I have to. I’ve told my friends, but I’ve never told any of the guys I’ve dated. Never trusted anyone enough to let them see me at my lowest.

I’ve never loved a man enough to open up like this.

Not like I love him.

“When I turned eighteen…” I pause to take in a breath. Reaching out, I touch Anders’s face, running my thumb over his cheekbone. Touching him grounds me, reminds me I’m not alone. “My parents wanted to take me out to dinner at our favorite restaurant to celebrate. Jace had a cold, so he had to stay home. Dad let me drive his car. I was so excited because I’d just earned my license. My parents were proud of me, I think. Well, Mom was a little nervous. She kept reminding me to keep my eyes on the road. I did.”

I swallow hard.

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