Page 28 of Triumph of the Wolf
While the microwave snack popped, I peered around the living room and bedrooms, making sure Chad hadn’t found a way in. The apartment was as I’d left it, and I sensed the case under the floor near my bed. That was a relief. It reminded me of my mother’s request that we take the medallions to the cave.
“Tomorrow,” I murmured, removing the popcorn from the microwave, the buttery scent filling the air.
Tonight, I wanted to relax with Duncan and let him know that I appreciated him leaping to my defense. Usually, he didn’t turn into the bipedfuris for that, but maybe seeing Chad beinga dick had made his beast come out of its own accord. The idea that such a thing would move Duncan to that action pleased me more than it should have. I shouldn’t want anyone to lose his equanimity or become violent on my behalf, and yet… it touched me that he cared, that he wanted to protect me.
In addition to the popcorn, I grabbed paper towels and a newly acquired bar of dark chocolate with bacon bits to share with Duncan. I also remembered that I’d picked up a few items from Goodwill for him the last time I’d visited. We’d both lost clothing the night of our battle at Abrams’s laboratory.
On an impulse, I grabbed the sword too. If Chad showed up again, I would have it close at hand, perhaps forestalling the need for anyone to get furry.
“Ah, my lady has brought gifts,” Duncan said, pushing the passenger-side door open for me when I reached his van.
I leaned the sword inside and placed the stack of shirts and trousers on the seat for him. Even though he’d put on clothes, he would need more soon if he kept engaging in unplanned shiftings. His small home on wheels couldn’t holdthatmany jeans and shirts in its tiny cupboards.
Duncan didn’t comment on the sword, only picking up the stack of garments to examine.
“More experienced clothing?”
“You wouldn’t want to pay top dollar forinexperiencedclothing that will end up vanishing into the ether.”
“Something that’s been happening a lot since I met you.”
“Do I test your self-control?”
“Oh,vastly.” After moving the clothes, Duncan waved me to the passenger seat, though he also gestured an invitation to his lap. “If you’re uncomfortable or cold by yourself over there, I’ve got room for you here.”
“I’ll bet you do.” I smirked at him as I rested a hand on the back of the passenger seat, intending to say I had no interestin sitting in his lap, but was that true? The more time we spent together, the more I appreciated his companionship, his loyalty, his willingness to help and defend me, and… how desirable and sexy he was.
The memory of him grabbing me in my mother’s cabin came to mind, his powerful arms wrapped around me, his hands going expertly to the right places to instantly stoke my arousal. By the moon, that had been hot.Hewas hot.
“I think you’d enjoy watching a movie in my lap,” Duncan murmured.
My cheeks flushed with heat. Not embarrassment but desire. When he took my hand from the passenger seat and shifted it to his shoulder, my wholebodyheated with desire. I slid into his lap, his body taut through his clothing, and raised my eyebrows.
“I’m surprised I didn’t find you in the bathroom again,” I murmured.
“Seeing you punch that loser did get me excited.” Duncan slid his arm around my waist and stroked me through my shirt.
“Was that before or after you turned into the bipedfuris?” I hadn’t looked down when he’d been in that form to check.
“Well, your ex-husband was presuming to touch you when I first started across the lawn, so I lost my mind a bit there. Excitement isn’t quite the word for the savage desire to kill him that I felt. It was more in the aftermath, while you’ve been gone, that I’ve had time to fully appreciate the punch.”
“I see.” I shifted a bit in his lap. “And feel.”
He grinned wickedly at me, keeping his gaze on me as he delved into the bag of popcorn and tossed a couple of pieces into his mouth.
“Everything okay with your assassin?” I realized I hadn’t asked for an update on the kid.
The main reason I did now was that I wanted to make sure Lykos wasn’t out there in the woods, watching us throughthe windshield. It was late enough that not many tenants were passing through the parking lot, but that kid didn’t seem to have a curfew.
“When I didn’t walk into the trap he’d set, he asked me a few questions, took the tin and some chocolates, and left.”
I blinked. “He really did lay a trap?”
“Very similar to the one we’d discussed. He didn’t seem surprised when I didn’t step into it, nor did the failure to ensnare me noticeably concern him. But he did take a photo of the trap. To show Abrams that he’d attempted to capture and slay me, perhaps.”
“That kid may need therapy.”
“I’m certain of it. Being raised by a mad scientist will give you a few issues to work through.” Duncan’s lips twisted wryly.
