Page 68 of The Hunger
I studied him a moment and supposed he was right. I’d shown up on pack territory before without an invitation. Well, if I didn’t count Fenris’s standing invite. But that was before Raiden told me not to come back. I wasn’t sure if I had the courage to attend Saturday now that I knew his feelings on the matter.
Fenris nudged me. “Don’t worry about it.”
I nodded, even though we both knew that worrying was what I did best.
As soon as Fenris finished his second tray of food, we headed back to the red room for more game time. He kept the conversation and bets light and playful. When LuAnn checked in on us again, we were lounging on the floor pillows and deep into another card game.
She didn’t say anything, only poked her head in and then left again. Still, Fenris gave an aggrieved sigh.
“She’s killing any chance I ever had in this room.”
I grinned at him.
“You never had a chance in this room. It’s all about me, you, a red dress, and the woods, remember?”
He set down his cards. That was the only warning I had before he leapt on me. The playful roll ended with the discovery that I was ticklish. I squealed and begged for Fenris to stop even as I reveled in all the touching.
With a lick to my nose, he got up and offered me a hand.
“I didn’t even know I was ticklish,” I panted.
“Really?”
“Really. Dad wasn’t the playful type, and I’ve never been close enough with anyone that I would have welcomed that kind of touching.” I smoothed my hair down and straightened my shirt.
The sudden burst of pity coming from Fenris had me jerking my head up.
“What?”
“That’s just so sad. Come here.” His hug swallowed me whole before I could get away.
“Why is that sad?” The words came out muffled.
“Everyone needs hugs and tickles.”
“I got hugs. I wasn’t deprived.”
“Be honest. Did you receive hugs or give hugs?”
“Shut up, Fenris.”
He just hugged me harder.
“Now I know why we’re together. I thought I was here as the element of fun and some eye-candy. I’m here to give you your daily dose of affection.”
“Eye-candy?” I asked, unwedging myself.
“Slice of side cake? The pudding in your pie?”
“How about we finish our game so we can head to Megan’s?”
We didn’t wait for the final bell to ring and left early. Fenris’s new goal to shower me with affection made me too nervous about what forms of PDA he might expose me to. He knew it, too, because he’d murmured, “Chicken,” when I’d made the suggestion to leave.
Our departure was brought to an abrupt halt when I saw words scratched into the side of my car. Bring the fury. There was a horribly rudimentary drawing of the Oracle underneath it. I only knew it was the Oracle because of the rocky hill and squiggly lines for water that accompanied it.
“The mermaids really need more time in art class,” I said.
“I guess it’s a good thing you haven’t bothered to get it repainted yet.”
