Page 14 of Shifting Fate
“Dallon!”
“What?” He blinked innocently up at me. “I thought that was an invitation.”
“If you could be so lucky.” The moment he scooted over, I stood and wiped my sweaty palms off on my jeans. “Let me go grab us a couple of sodas and some popcorn.” Before he could reply with anything smart-assy, I stalked off into the kitchen, once again cursing Tristram for ditching me.
Tristram was all for me and Dallon hooking up, and sure, it’s not like I hadn’t weighed the pros and cons. I was dying to taste him, but I knew the moment I did, my magical hold on the other wolf would disappear and Dallon wouldknow.
It couldn’t happen. Even if we were fated, I couldn’t give him anything more than my body. Eventually he’d grow tired of me and move on, and I wasn’t sure I could handle seeing him on the arm of someone else. LikeTybalt.I’d definitely have to move back to Minnesota.
No. It was best if we kept this thing between us strictly friendly.
Apparently Dallon didn’t get the memo, though, because halfway through the movie, his hand found its way to my thigh. His fingertips rubbed over the worn denim, inching closer and closer to my groin, and I realized that he had no intention of stopping.
I gritted my teeth and growled his name, my heartbeat going wild. “Dallon.”
“Mmm?” He gracefully swung himself around to straddle my lap, leaning in until we were nose to nose. His eyes half-lidded, he gazed longingly at me. “Why can’t I smell you?” he whispered, his breath warming my lips. I froze. Slowly, a smirk stole over his face. “Bet I could taste you, though.”
I panicked.
I rocketed up off the couch, unceremoniously dumping Dallon onto the floor. He toppled backwards and thumped his head against the coffee table. Hissing, he reached back to touch the lump. When his eyes found mine, I saw my rejection staring back at me.
“What the hell?”
“We can’t.” I barely choked the words out. “I can’t. Look…” I sucked down a deep lungful of breath and grasped at the threads of my self-control. They were frayed, unraveling by the minute. “It’s not you, okay? You’re amazing, Dallon, and I—”
He held up a hand. “Don’t. Just stop. I don’t want the whole ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ bullshit spiel, okay? Because it’s never the truth.” He closed his eyes on a humorless laugh. He shrugged it off, like it was no big deal, but I knew better. The hurt in his brown eyes told me everything.
He stood and dusted off the butt of his leather pants. “If you weren’t interested, you should’ve just told me,” he said coolly. “I’m a big boy. I can handle rejection, and I know when I’m not wanted. There are so many other fish in the sea. I was hoping you were one of them, but I guess I was wrong. I’ll see myself out. Ta.”
He walked out without so much as slamming the door, and somehow, his silent acceptance hurt worse than anything he could’ve physically thrown at me.
I sank back down on the couch and dropped my head into my hands.This was what you wanted,I reminded myself.For Dallon to get off your back. Congratulations. Now you have to live with it.
As if he could sense the tension in the air, Tristram came wandering out of his room. He glanced around, frowning when I met his gaze. I gave my head a small shake, then dropped my chin to my chest. Damn it.
Tristram gently squeezed my shoulder. He sat down beside me without a word, but I just wanted to be left alone. The hole in my chest gaped wider, exposing fragile organs behind an equally-fragile cage of bones. They oozed pain with every breath I took.
Aching, I retreated to my room to lick my self-inflicted wounds.
Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
