Page 61 of The Howl
“I get why you have to warn the others away. It’s to keep them safe. I’m not like the rest, though, Eliana. You don’t have to protect me.”
“What are you saying?”
“That it’s safe to let me touch you if you want.”
I inhaled deeply, my mouth watering at the strength of his scent.
“I’m not sure what you’re suggesting,” I said. “Based on your scent, it’s more than touching. And I’m definitely not interested in that.”
He nodded slowly, considering me for a moment.
“When I said holding yourself back from people is lonely, I was speaking from experience. If I show any one female from my pack too much attention, they read into it. They become possessive. I haven’t had a decent hug since Megan left.”
He said it all with complete sincerity, but the twinkle in his eyes gave him away. He was messing with me. Trying to play on my emotions.
“Is this your way of asking for a hug?”
“Is this you considering giving me one?”
“Nope. But I think I know a dwarf who might be willing.”
“And people think Megan was the mean one.”
I grinned.
“You can’t fool me, Fenris. You’re a hopeless flirt, and if you wanted a hug from someone, you’d have hundreds of volunteers.”
“Makes you wonder why I want one from you, doesn’t it?” he asked playfully.
“Not really. I just think it’s in your nature to want what you can’t have. It’s the whole waiting for a predestined mate thing.”
He stared at me for a long, silent moment.
“I didn’t mean that in a negative way,” I said quickly.
“I know. You just…” He took a long, slow breath. “I like spending time with you. You have more to say than ‘do you like my top?’ Which I do, by the way.”
I looked down at what I was wearing. Another thin number with way too much skin exposed.
“I don’t,” I said. “It’s the start of winter. I wore more during the summer. Adira is insane.”
The door opened then LuAnn poked her head in.
“How are you two progressing?”
“We’ve decided that I’m going to become a male gigolo after my seventh child, you know, to earn enough money to feed them all; and Eliana is going to attach herself to a hi-roller in Vegas for the buffets there.”
LuAnn blinked at him.
“Er. All right. I’m glad you’re both embracing your futures. Carry on.”
She closed the door, and Fenris threw his head back and laughed.
“What, exactly, were we supposed to be doing?” I asked.
“Not sure, but she seemed to like that answer.”
I shook my head at him.
