Page 111 of The Hunger
“Chipmunk. Get it right.”
He gave a laughing growl, plucked me off the bench, and sat me in his lap. Before I could figure out a dignified escape, he wrapped me in a hug. It should have been stifling but, instead, felt comforting and safe.
Giving in, I slid my arms around his back and returned the hug.
“Who are you, Eliana?” he asked softly.
“Your mate.”
He dropped his lips to my neck and nipped my skin. A flash of fire raced through me and ignited my sharp vision. I pulled away from him just enough to meet his gaze.
“If you know my discomfort with public displays of affection, then why do you persist?”
He grinned mischievously.
“I like troub—”
A session bell sounded, drowning out the rest of the word but punctuating his intent. Mere seconds later, the first trickle of students entered the large space.
I scrambled wildly to get off Fenris’s lap and ignored his chuckle as I smoothed my hair from an appropriate distance beside him. With my attention divided between the first people who’d entered and what they might have noticed, and Fenris’s hand creeping closer to me on the bench seat, I almost missed Jenna’s entrance with Eugene.
Happy for a diversion, I stood and waved the pair over.
“Hey, Eliana,” Eugene said. “You look really pretty today.”
“You’re not supposed to notice that,” Jenna scolded without rancor. “One, it’s dangerous. And two, you’re not supposed to be looking at anyone, right?”
“Ah, yeah. Right. Sorry, Jenna.”
She rolled her eyes and gestured for him to sit. Then she faced Fenris.
“Aubrey had Laurel looking for you and brought Willow to the ground.”
“But not you?” he asked, far from amused.
“No. I told her to have fun with her little man hunt. She could kick my ass from here until Saturday, but it wouldn’t change a thing. I’m done playing her games; and if she somehow manages to snag you this weekend, I’m leaving to find my mate. And, I will not be back to turn belly up to her megalomaniac ego.”
“Nice,” Eugene said.
I kicked him lightly under the table.
“You’re supposed to be pretending we’re not here, remember?”
“Ignoring you guys and all your drama is way too boring. I’d rather be in the thick of it.”
“He’s not going to make it more than three months,” Jenna said, plopping down beside him. “It was nice knowing you, Eugene.”
He chuckled and unpacked his sandwiches. I gave the stack of six a weird look.
“Want one, Fenris?” he asked.
Fenris didn’t have to be asked twice. He snatched one off the stack and ate a quarter of it in one bite.
“He’s been a lot hungrier since you started feeding more consistently,” Jenna said.
Fenris must have kicked her because she twitched and scowled at him.
“One dictator in my life is enough. Besides, Eliana would want to know that. She likes you too much to let you go hungry.” She abruptly switched topics and looked at me. “Do you mind if I invite Willow and Laurel to join us? Twenty minutes out from under Aubrey’s thumb will make them feel like they’ve reached Valhalla.”
