Page 32 of Smoke and Mirrors
“Dad, I found them!” he announced proudly.
I stepped out to find Hunter just outside, holding his daughter with an amused expression on his face.
“Roo, boy. You need to knock before poking your head into tents,” he chuckled, ruffling his son’s hair when the boy reattached himself to his father’s leg.
“There was no door. How could I knock?”
“Scratch at the flap.”
I cleared my throat. “Right, I’ll get a tent set up for you and the little ones.”
Turning to the fire pit, I huffed out a quick breath to ignite the logs into a warm blaze again before walking off.
“Whoa! Did you see that!” Roo exclaimed.
Mel, Hunter, and his family talked in low voices by the fire while I got the smaller tent up in a few minutes. By the time I finished, a mouthwatering smell wafted in from their direction and I realized I was starving.
“I brought food,” Hunter said when I rejoined the group. “It’s the least I could for you offering your hospitality.”
I muttered my thanks and took a seat on a tree stump next to Mel, who was already tearing into a drumstick.
“You know, some vegetables wouldn’t kill you guys,” she teased, wiping her mouth. “Or a little mashed potatoes with gravy…”
“Human stomachs,” I joked with a jab to her ribs before helping myself to a whole, small game bird roasting over the fire. “So picky. Hunter and I are carnivores. Our tastes are simple.”
All of us were apparently famished. Not long after the food disappeared, Hunter’s kids began nodding off, their eyelids fluttering.
“I guess that’s goodnight for us,” the wolf gently patted his kids awake. “See you in the morn—”
“Hunter, wait.”
He looked at Mel, surprised.
She chewed her lip for a moment without speaking. “Stay with me tonight?” She darted a glance at me, then back to him. “With us?”
Hunter’s gaze moved to me, then lowered just a centimeter. Fire bloomed in my chest. Yes, the wolf knew his place. In my territory, he had to ask me for permission. But the truth of the matter was, Mel could ask for anything and I’d give it to her without a second thought. If she wanted a wolf and a dragon to keep her company all night, that was no question.
I nodded sharply and he returned it.
“Let me get them to sleep first,” he whispered, then walked to the tent with his pups in tow.
Mel immediately turned to me and before I could open my mouth, stammered, “I just don’t want to be alone tonight. I’m not in the mood for… you know. I’m sorry, I just can’t stop thinking about him.”
“Shush,steluta.It’s okay.” I pulled her into a hug, feeling her shudder with relief against my chest. “You have nothing to apologize for. Besides,” I pulled away just enough to look at her. “We’ve just gotten back in each other’s good graces. We don’t need to fuck each other’s brains out yet.”
She dropped her head back to my chest, pressing her cheek to my heart. “I just figured that was what you expected.”
The words stung but I tried not to take them personally. My reputation preceded me and Mel was still hardwired to think that all men wanted just one thing at any cost. But with patience and time I was changing, and so was she.
“Even if I did,” I murmured against her hair. “You can always tell me no. Always and I’ll listen. You understand?”
She nodded but looked unsure. “And if I do… you won’t go to anyone else?”
“Absolutely not.” I cupped her chin. “I’m not going to screw things up with the only human woman who not only knows the truth about me, but accepts me for what I am.” My thumb brushed against her lower lip. “As long as you want me around, my fire is yours.”
Finally, her gorgeous face relaxed into a genuine smile that made my hard, scaly heart flutter. “You really do know how to be romantic. I’m impressed, Raz.”
“I’m working on it,” I chuckled, leading her by the hand back to the tent. “But I’m warning you now, I’m no Romeo.”
