Page 48 of Firedrake Betrayal
None of us says a word. I’d wanted to avoid awkwardness on an already strange day, but it looks like it’s settled over all of us anyway.
Patten returns minutes later, relaxed, and missing the bulge in the front of his pants.
“So…”
My eyes fly to Shep at his long drawl.
He’s watching me, nostrils flared, and his stare is pure wolf-gold.
He knew when I was aroused in Chicago, and he knows it now.
13
SHEP
Leaving the house is not a good idea.
The sweet scent of Jade’s arousal is impossible to ignore. And my wolf… my wolf is having difficulties staying away from her.
Jade is standing on the other side of the kitchen island. A glass of water sits in front of her, and she’s not looking anyone in the eye. The second our gazes had clashed, she was up off the couch, babbling something about her mouth being dry.
She’s still aroused by what she saw, and she’s aware that I know it.
“I’m going for a run,” I say, hoping my baggy sweats are doing a decent job of hiding the bulge in my pants.
Patten stops peering at his wrist to lift a brow. “Now? You thinknowis a good time for some exercise?”
Isaiah told him that the bite healed the moment he licked it, but Patten isn’t convinced. Or maybe he just wants a reason to not look at Isaiah.
All of us avoiding looking at each other. Probably for the same reason: embarrassment.
Except Dominik. He hasn’t stopped staring at Jade since she leapt off the couch and darted across the room to pour herself a glass of water.
“Well, enjoy your exercise.” Isaiah rises from the couch. “I need to refresh myself.”
He saunters upstairs.
None of us ask him how he means to do that. But I think we can all guess.
“It’s not exercise,” I tell Jade and Patten as I pad toward the backyard door. “My wolf needs to run.”
Leaving Jade alone with Patten. With the way he’s glaring at Dominik, it isn’t wise, but I need to run off this need for Jade.
If I can.
“It’s the middle of the afternoon.” Jade frowns. “Is it safe? What about?—”
“I will be fine.” I smile softly as I interrupt her.
But you might not be if this need I have for you keeps growing.
Pulling the back door open, I take in the slightly overcast afternoon and the mountains in the distance. It’s become that hunting Atticus Chira is going to involve venturing deeper into those mountains. Out there, in the stark rural surroundings, there is nowhere to hide.
It would be easy to wander into a trap. If he cuts off our retreat like he did in the cell, we have no backup in this town. Just a witch who may or may not want to stick her neck out for us.
We need a plan, but right now, I can’t think clearly to formulate one.
I need to run.
