Page 92 of The Howl
“You’re right. I’m too tired to drive. Or fight you. Can I borrow a blanket and just sleep in the car for a bit?”
He laughed and got out, walking around the car to open my door.
“Not a chance. Come on. Everything will be fine.”
I got out and waited for him to close the door.
“If you ever want, I can take your car somewhere to get this fixed,” he said, pointing to the bubbled paint. “Just let me know when you’re ready to be without it for a few days.”
I nodded and tiredly followed him.
My gaze was glued to his back. The play of muscles as he walked mesmerized me as I listened to the crunch of his feet on the snow.
“How are you not cold?” I asked.
He looked over his shoulder at me.
“What can I say, Eliana? I’m hot, and all the girls are in awe.”
I rolled my eyes at him.
“Hot or big-headed?”
He grinned.
“They usually go hand in hand, don’t they?”
He opened the cabin door. This time, in the daylight, I could see the room and closed the door as he went to light the fire. He had flames within a few minutes then crossed the room and pulled back the blankets.
“In you go,” he said.
I looked at him then the bed.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You take the bed. I’ll take the chair by the fire. I’ll be warmer.”
He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
I watched him crawl into bed and turn his back to me. Within seconds, his breathing evened out.
Exhaling slowly, I went to the chair and closed my eyes.
Once again, I was in the woods surrounded by cakes. They smelled so good. Better than the ones I made with Ashlyn. My mouth watered, but I didn’t eat. I was too afraid of what the sleeping me would do to Fenris.
My hunger grew as I walked, clenching at my stomach so painfully that I whimpered.
“Take what you need,” the forest rumbled.
I shook my head and kept walking. The hunger didn’t ease.
“Stop denying yourself,” the forest said. “I exist only for you. Take what you need. There will always be more.”
A cake dropped in front of my face, brushing my nose, flooding my senses with its sweet scent.
I knew I shouldn’t, but I took a bite. Then another. Warmth surrounded me, blanketing me in comfort as I ate deeply of every sweet possible. I gorged myself until I thought I’d burst. Then the forest disappeared. The warmth didn’t. It stayed with me while I slept deeply.
When I woke, I was in the bed, tucked under the blankets. I looked around the room warily. Fenris was gone, though.
Confused, I got out of bed and checked my phone, which was in my purse still by the chair. Five hours had passed. I rubbed my face and stretched, wondering how long Fenris had slept before he’d left. I frowned and glanced at the chair then the bed. Had he moved me when he’d woken up?
