Page 18 of Mated
He sighs. “Where are you?”
I look around and start to pace. “My apartment.”
There is a soft squeak, like a box spring groaning. I force the image of that man in any bed far from my mind. “Do you want me to come to you, or would you rather come out here?”
I hold the phone away from my ear, sure I must be hearing shit. The man doesn’t know me, so why help me?
But it’s not like I have a hell of a lot of options.
Chuck’s scent grows stronger in my nose. I glance over to find one of his shirts peeking out of the laundry basket in the wash room. My nose crinkles in distaste.
Yeah—No.
I press the phone back into place. “Where exactly is here?”
***
The old campground off the interstate is overgrown, damn near abandoned. But Tanner leans back against one porch rail as I pull my old Jeep into the horseshoe drive. The man is all sleek muscle in what looks like the same clothes from the hospital. Albeit the more rumpled version. But he is no less fucking gorgeous in day old clothes than he was when I first opened my eyes. One long arm points to the end of the small buildings. I pull down and park.
He pads across the dirt lot on long bare feet. I climb from my car, leaving my overnight bag in the backseat. He appraises me as he nears.
“The cabin on the end is yours,” he says in lieu of greeting. He points behind him to the other log buildings. “You’re far enough from the newlyweds to not have to listen to them, and far enough from Caine you won’t have to kill him.”
I shift. “Thanks.” I mean it as not having to listen to the new couple have sex, but it winds up meaning so much more.
He nods like he really understands. “First few weeks are the hardest. The bitten are ruled by the hungers, even more than the bred shifters. So it’s going to be a learning curve.”
“Hungers?” I ask.
“Skin hunger, regular hunger, some mild bloodlust, and sex. Sex is a big one.” His eyes are a stormy grey in the early dawn light. “Fridge is packed already, so try to eat as much protein rich food as you can. It helps stave off most of the hungers.”
I glance past him to the only illuminated front porch of the farthest cabin from the road. “How did you know I was coming?”
He snorts. “Didn’t. Lilah made Ruin stop on the way back.”
My face flames. “Oh.”
Was I that easy to read?
He dips his head and turns away. “Well, I’m going back to bed.” His hand gestures down his side as he walks. “This doesn’t happen on less than four hours of beauty sleep.”
I watch his tight ass in those jeans as he climbs up onto the narrow porch of the cabin nearest mine. And then immediately turn away as he glances over his shoulder, like he can feel my gaze.
My face burns as I reach into the Jeep and pull my bag free. I climb onto the low stoop and open the door to the cabin.
A single lamp rests next to a low queen size bed with a thin quilt and a handful of pillows. I drop my bag beside the door and close it behind me.
The window unit has already been turned on, and the room should be chilly after the heat, but the fire in my veins seems never ending. A small fridge sits in the half kitchen. Indeed the inside is filled to the brim with fruits, lunch meats, and bottled water. I open the cabinet above to find wheat bread, peanut butter, beef jerky, and trail mix. Healthy, high protein and high fat foods.
Things to help keep away the hungers.
There is only a faint trace of evergreens in the air. No sex, no blood. No stale odors or mildew.
No old boyfriends.
And that alone was worth the damn drive.
The bathroom is narrow, with an antique model green tub and sliding shower door, but everything is clean and almost minty scented. Well taken care of.
