Page 99 of The Howl
A dumb hug.
Sighing, I got out of the booth. No matter how much my brain said it was no big deal, my insides went crazy as I stepped into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.
“One-sided doesn’t count,” he murmured against the top of my head.
I slid my arms around his waist and tried not to feel how his hips pressed against me. Then I breathed in and tried not to bury my nose in his shirt. He smelled so good it was a struggle not to drool.
“You’re important, and you have friends, Eliana. Say it.”
I tipped my head up and wrinkled my nose at him. He chuckled.
“Say it.”
“I’m important and have friends.”
“And you don’t hate your life,” he said.
“And I don’t hate my life as much as I did yesterday,” I said, ad-libbing.
He grinned, gave me an extra squeeze, and released me.
I glanced at his girls, who were just behind him. Jenna didn’t look mad. Maybe a little sad, but not angry.
“Sorry you’re having a hard time,” she said.
“Thanks.”
“Want to dance with us?” Fenris asked.
“No. But thanks for the offer.”
They left me with Ashlyn, who glanced up from her book as I resumed my seat.
“Did you just grab his ass?”
“What? No.” I paused, doubting myself. “Did I?” Hehadsmelled distractingly amazing.
She laughed.
“Don’t ever change,” she said. “You do reluctant succubus too well.”
I rolled my eyes at her and turned to watch the dancers. Or, more accurately, Fenris’s butt. Ashlyn had planted a seed, and try as I might to look away, I couldn’t.
The double doors opened, and Eras and his gang walked in. His eyes immediately went black, and he inhaled deeply. He turned his head to his friends and said something that had them scattering throughout the room. One of them was slowly making his way to our table when Fenris stepped away from the dancers and spoke to him. Whatever he said had them both looking at me. The guy nodded and walked away.
No one else tried to approach us, so I stayed and listened to the music until the Roost closed. As did Ashlyn and Fenris’s group.
“Want to keep the party going?” Fenris asked. “We’re going to the hot spring caves. A good soak would fix whatever troubles you.”
“It’s the most relaxing thing ever,” Jenna said.
“Especially without Aubrey,” one of the other girls added.
“Could I go? Without dying some horrible death?” Ashlyn asked before I could decline.
Fenris grinned at her.
“I’ll make sure you don’t die any type of death if you come with.”
