Page 7 of Silent Fire

“Nope,” he said without turning around. “I’m too exhausted, so I’m going to embrace my insanity.”

Tomas chuckled. “You’re not crazy, florito.”

Noel spun around, glaring. “Quiet calling me little flower. It’s insulting.”

Switching to Spanish, Tomas said, “It just popped into my head, and now it’s stuck.”

“Unstick it,” Noel shot back in English. “How’d you like it if I called you perrito?”

“Baby, you can call me whatever you want.” Tomas was just glad his mate wasn’t backing away or running.

“Seriously?” Noel squinted at him. “I’m having a meltdown and you’re hitting on me?”

Normally, Tomas wouldn’t make light of someone spiraling. He still wasn’t, but he saw the spark in his mate’s blue eyes. It was helping Noel shift his focus, keeping him grounded, and distracting him from those filthy hyenas.

Or from realizing Tomas wasn’t exactly human.

“I just said you could call me whatever you wanted.” Tomas shifted his weight, the ground rough on his bare feet. “So, you gonna tell me why you bailed without a word?” The teasing was gone, replaced by genuine concern. “Didn’t even know you took off.”

“It was easier this way.” Noel crossed his arms and stared at the grass. “Spared us both the awkwardness of a goodbye.”

“And you figured making me worry was a better option?” Tomas shook his head in disbelief. “Didn’t peg you as a coward, florito.”

Noel clenched his fists, nostrils flaring. “Why would you even care? We barely know each other.”

“You’re under my damn protection,” Tomas snapped, pointing at the ground. “That might not mean much to you, but it’s important to me, Noel.”

He was being petty and didn’t care. Now that the adrenaline was fading, his fear was creeping back. When he’d returned from the bathroom and found Noel gone, Tomas had a moment of sheer panic. He still felt it.

“I don’t need your protection. I’ve been handling things just fine by myself.” Noel stomped through the grass, heading back toward the road.

“You’re kidding, right?” Tomas followed, wishing he had some clothes on. Being naked usually didn’t bother him, but during a heated argument, it made him feel exposed. “You call what just happened at that house handling things?” He clenched his jaw, the image of the hyena pinning Noel replaying in his head. That intense level of rage was something he’d never felt before. Noel was so small, and whether it was fair or not, Tomas saw him as fragile. If Noel knew Tomas thought that, the guy would try to kick his ass.

Noel whipped around, his eyes crystal pools of anger. “Are you saying that was my fault?”

“What? No!” Jesus. Why was Noel being so hostile? He was twisting Tomas’s words. “I’m saying you agreed to let me protect you.” He raked his fingers through his hair, ready to pull it out. “And maybe letting someone watch your back isn’t such a bad thing. We all need help at some point.” He sighed. “I just want to be the one to help you, flor—Noel.”

“I—” Noel crossed his arms, scuffing his sneaker against the edge of the road. “I don’t know how to accept help, Tomas.”

Standing in front of the male, he gently lifted Noel’s chin. Their eyes met, and Tomas saw fear but also the longing in them. “Let me show you.”

* * * *

Noel swallowed hard, his pulse fluttering under Tomas’s fingertips as they lingered on his chin. The soft touch sent tingles through his skin, a jolt of electricity that made his knees weak. He wanted to lean into that strong hand, to let Tomas wrap him up and chase away the chill of the night.

But he couldn’t. Accepting help meant lowering his defenses. It meant trusting someone else not to hurt him. And Noel had been burned too many times before.

He stepped back, breaking the contact. Tomas let his hand fall to his side, but his gaze remained steady on Noel’s face. Patient. Understanding.

“I’m trying to keep you safe,” Tomas said quietly. “That’s all I want to do.”

Noel shook his head. “You don’t even know me. Not really.” He laughed without humor. “I mean, shit, I apparently don’t even know you. Wolf shifter?” He threw his hands up. “What does that even mean?”

“It means I can take the form of a wolf. That I have...abilities most humans don’t.” Tomas took a careful step closer, like he was approaching a skittish animal. “I know it’s a lot to absorb. I’m sorry you had to find out this way.”

Noel snorted. “Yeah, well, having sharp-toothed guys try to kill me in an abandoned house kind of forces the issue, doesn’t it?” He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. God, he was so tired. Tired of running, of looking over his shoulder, of never feeling safe.

Maybe...maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to let someone else carry the burden for a little while. To rest. Just for a minute.

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