Page 21 of Enchanted
It both irritated and charmed him that she seemed to have no vanity, no self-awareness. She piled her hair on top of her head in a gloriously messy mass, and didn’t so much as glance at herself in the mirror.
Instead she talked to him, chattering nonsense, then hissed out a breath as she stepped into the tub. Steam billowed as she gingerly lowered herself, until the bubbles played prettily over her breasts.
Until he longed to re-form and slip into the tub with her as a man.
She only laughed when he walked forward to sniff at her. Only ran a hand over his head absently while she picked up a book with the other.
Home Maintenance for the Confused and Inept.
It made him chuckle, the sound coming out as a softwoof.She gave his ears a quick scratch, then reached for her wine.
“It says here,” she began, “that I should always have a few basic tools on hand. I think I saw all of these in the utility room, but I’d better make a list and compare. The next time the power goes out, or I blow a fuse—or is it a breaker?—I’m handling it myself. I won’t be rescued by anyone, especially Liam Donovan.”
She gasped, then chuckled, when the wolf dipped his tongue into her glass and drank. “Hey, hey! This is a very fine sauvignon blanc, and not for you, pal.” She lifted the glass out of reach. “It explains how to do simple rewiring,” she continued. “Not that I’m planning on doing any, but it doesn’t look terribly complicated. I’m very good at following directions.”
A frown marred her brow. “Entirely too good.” She sipped wine, slid lower in the tub. “That’s the core of the problem. I’musedto following directions, so everyone’s startled that I’ve taken a detour.”
She set the book aside, idly lifted a leg out of the water, skimmed a fingertip up her calf.
His mind moaned.
“No one’s more surprised than I am that I like detours. Adventures,” she added, and grinned over at him. “This is really my first adventure.” She eased up again, bubbles clinging to her breasts. She scooped up a handful and idly rubbed them up and down her arm.
She only laughed when he ran his tongue slowly from her elbow to her shoulder. “All in all, it’s been a hell of an adventure so far.”
She lingered in the tub for a half hour, innocently delighting him. The scent of her as she toweled off made him yearn. He found her no less alluring when she slipped into the flannel pajamas.
When she crouched to build up the bedroom fire, he nipped and nuzzled, making her giggle. The next thing she knew she was wrestling playfully with a wolf on the hearth rug. His breath tickled her throat. She rubbed his belly and made him rumble with pleasure. His tongue was warm and wet on her cheek. Breathlessly happy, she knelt to throw her arms around his neck, to hug fiercely.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. I’m so glad I found you.” She pressed her cheek hard against his, locked her fingers in that silky fur. “Or did you find me?” she murmured. “It doesn’t matter. It’s so good to have a friend who doesn’t expect anything but friendship.”
She curled up with him to watch the fire, smiling at the pictures she found in the flames. “I’ve always liked doing this. When I was a little girl I was sure I saw things in the fire. Magic things,” she murmured, and settled her head on his neck. “Beautiful things. Castles and clouds and cliffs.” Her voice slurred as her eyes grew heavy. “Handsome princes and enchanted hills. I used to think I could go there, through the smoke and into the magic.” She sighed, drifted. “Now there are only shapes and light.”
And slept.
When she slept, he let himself be Liam, stroking her hair while he watched the fire she’d built. There was a way through the smoke and into the magic, he thought. What would she think if he showed her? If he took her there?
“But you’d have to come back to the other, Rowan. There’s no way for me to keep you. I don’t want to keep you,” he corrected, firmly. “But God, I want to have you.”
In sleep she sighed, shifted. Her arm came around him. He closed his eyes. “You’d best hurry,” he told her. “Hurry and find out what you want and where you intend to go. Sooner or later I’ll send for you.”
He rose, lifting her gently to carry her to bed. “If you come to me,” he whispered as he lowered her to the bed, spread the cover over her. “If you come to me, Rowan Murray, I’ll show you magic.” Lightly he touched his lips to hers. “Dream what you will tonight, and dream alone.”
He kissed her again, for himself this time. He left her as a man. And prowled the night mists as a wolf.
***
She spent the next week in the grip of tremendous energy, compelled to fill every minute of every day with something new. She explored the woods, haunted the cliffs and pleased herself by sketching whatever appealedto the eye.
As the weather gradually warmed, the bulbs she’d spotted began to bud. The night still carried a chill, but spring was ready to reign. Delighted, she left the windows open to welcome it in.
For that week she saw no one but the wolf. It was rare for him not to spend at least an hour with her. Walking with her on her hikes through the woods, waiting patiently while she examined the beginnings of a wildflower or a circle of toadstools or stopped to sketch the trees.
Her weekly call home made her heart ache, but she told herself she felt strong. Dutifully she wrote a long letter to Alan, but said nothing about coming back.
Each morning she woke content. Each night she slipped into bed satisfied. Her only frustration was that she’d yet to discover what she needed to do. Unless, she sometimes thought, what she needed was simply to live alone with her books, her drawings and the wolf.
She hoped there was more.
