Page 40 of Spellbound & Speechless
He can hear my hammering heart, can’t he? That makes the game less fun. He’ll know how much I like it.
Heat rises to my cheeks. I settle into bed, buying myself a few moments before he looks at me again with a penetrating glare. Only Mac knows how to glareandeye-fuck at the same time, and in the protected peace of my mind, I can admit I yearn for each glimpse.
“Done,” I whisper.
He lowers his hands and sighs, still not looking at me. “I wasn’t thinking earlier, with the wolf thing. I’m sorry.”
I refuse to look away from him, even if it would make it easier to hide my embarrassment. “I don’t need you to apologize. That didn’t upset me.”
He turns his head, finally gracing me with his attention. “Then what was this all about?”
“Winning.”
“Winning, huh? Is that what you think happened here?”
“Oh, yes. I would say so.”
For several moments, we’re silent, and then he surprises me.
Helaughs, a soft chuckle, and rubs the palms of his hands into his eyes. “Gods…”
“What?” I ask, speaking through giggles.
“Nothing. Go to sleep.” He rolls onto his side with his back to me.
A thought crosses my mind—that I may have pushed him too far. He started the game, but it’s not the first time I’ve gone a few steps further than I should have for the sake of winning. I stare at his broad shoulders.
He turns back around. “Why are you watching me? I thought you won.”
“I did.”
“Then enjoy your victory. Don’t make this about me.’
I sigh, rolling my eyes up to the ceiling. “I thought this would be sweeter, somehow.”
“Like how?”
“Like…” I hadn’t realized it would mean setting such a firm boundary—that I’ll never see him without a shirt again. That would be strange to admit aloud, wouldn’t it? “I didn’t mean that you can never use your wolf form. It took me by surprise. It was about the timing, and?—”
“Don’t tell me you’re scared of dogs. I’ve seen you with Timber.”
“Timber is different. He’s a familiar—and I’ve known him his entire life. He’s like a brother. Seeing an enormous wolf would shock anyone.” I remove my towel and run my fingers through my hair. “Your wolf is bigger than most, you know.”
“Is that right?”
“It is—at least, I think so. It’s bigger than anyI’veseen.”
He must be big enough to be a leader. Wolf leaders run in the family, but whether said leader steps up is another story. Mac seems to do the opposite of what his lineage would want. He’s a lone wolf.How strange.
Neither of us acknowledges what his size means, and Iwon’t be the one to bring up the topic. He knows. He must know.
“Go to sleep, Aspen,” he says. “It’s late.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.”
“Fine. ThenI’mgoing to sleep.”
This time, he doesn’t turn away. He stays on his back, and even though he may want to hide it, the smallest smile dances on his lips.
