Page 6 of Restoring His Howl

Cinders switched into his human form first. Sweat glistened on his body. He stood and flexed his muscles.

Dillon shifted and bit back a moan. He wanted to touch Cinders and envied how Cinders was unaffected by being nude. Dillon wished he could be so free without thinking about his past. He disliked being exposed and vulnerable. Why did he have to keep letting the things from his former life dominate his current situation? He hated what he’d gone through and wished he could change the past.

Cinders watched him. “You’re shaking.”

Was he? He hadn’t noticed. He stared at his hands. Sure enough, he was trembling. Well, fuck. “Sorry.”

Cinders held out his hand. “Come here.” He snagged Dillon into his embrace. “Are you cold? We can go inside.”

Without giving Dillon the chance to argue or say anything, Cinders led him into the house and into the little changing room off the kitchen. On one wall of the space were shelves filled with mismatched sweatshirts and pants for post-shift dressing. Though Dillon wanted to bolt, he allowed Cinders to escort him into the tiny space and take the lead.

“I won’t hurt you.” Cinders let go and offered one of the sweatshirts. “This should fit.”

“Thanks.” He shrugged into it then selected a pair of pants. “It’s nice Markas has all of these here.”

“Yeah.” Cinders dressed then rested his hands on his hips. “Can we talk?”

“Sure.” Dillon’s skin itched. From the detergent in the shirt? No, from the way Cinders looked at him. He wasn’t sure what to think. Was Cinders rethinking his attraction?

“You’re still shaking.” Cinders curled his arm around Dillon. “We can go to my room or yours. Doesn’t matter. I want you to get warm. I’m worried about you.”

Ah, a protector. Dillon wanted to argue with him but didn’t. He had to let someone in. “Okay.” He drew a deep breath then exhaled. “You have a roommate. I’m in a single.”

Cinders nodded. “Good deal.” He kept his arm around Dillon and remained beside him as they went through the house to the main staircase. A couple men lingered in the foyer. One stared and the other muttered something Dillon couldn’t make out. Cinders stopped. He let go of Dillon and glared. “Got a problem?”

“No,” the mutterer replied. “I didn’t think he ever came out of his room. It’s strange.”

Dillon gritted his teeth. He hadn’t been nearly as good at observation as he’d thought. Or the others were watching more than he’d considered. He wanted to stand up for himself and lash out but kept quiet.

“Do you want to be stared at?” Cinders asked. “You’d hate it if we gawked at you. Hell, I know one of you got leered at—I worked with you, Avan. We hated those stares, and we’re shifters so we get even funkier stares. Don’t make it worse.”

Dillon suppressed a snort. Cinders was much more than he let on. He could be quite eloquent when he wanted, even if he had no idea. He sounded pretty badass, too.

“Or what?” Avan asked. “Are you going to kick my ass for watching your…friend?”

Dillon cringed. He wasn’t sure what he was to Cinders other than a friend, but the way Avan said the word churned his stomach.

“I will fuck you up in ways your lion can’t even imagine,” Cinders bit out. “Yeah, he’s out. Yeah, he’s my friend. Yeah, he’s quiet. Maybe, it you weren’t a dick, he’d get to know you.”

Avan rolled his eyes. The other shifter, who Dillon didn’t know, ducked into the library and out of sight. Avan shook his head. “Whatever.” He followed the other guy and disappeared.

“Asshat.” Cinders turned back to Dillon. “Sorry. I’m protective when people are dicks.” He kept distance between them. “I overreacted a little, but I hate the way he… Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Dillon sighed. “Let’s go upstairs. I think we need to do a whole lot of talking.” Maybe, some exploring and kissing, too. He started upstairs and tried to tamp down the heat in his brain. He liked strong men, especially those willing to put themselves out for him. And Cinders was so beautiful. But there was Dillon’s past… Could he try again? Could he be himself with Cinders? He had no way of knowing other than to leap. He could do this—he could open himself up to Cinders.

Right?

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