Page 20 of Falling for Ash
But was he worthy to claim her?
Before his doubts could grab hold of him, twisting and turning him inside out until he ran screaming from the place, his sweet would be mate touched his cheek.
“You really are so handsome,” she murmured, and her cornflower blue eyes widened as her fingertips ran over his lips.
Grrr.
Ash growled low in his chest. His body trembled at her tentative touch. Slowly, gently, he placed her down on a plush leather sofa before turning away. He had to and fast. Need and desire burned through him like wildfire. He wanted her so damn badly.
Instead of giving in to that lust, he turned to grab her a bottle of cold spring water. Ash helped Gabby kick off her shoes, realizing the female might think it rude, but she seemed weak and out of sorts, and he wanted her comfortable.
“Has the cramping stopped?”
“Yes, but I am dying of thirst,” she replied, tucking her feet beneath her and grabbing the bottle he held out to her. Ash watched with concern while she guzzled the cool liquid, hoping it refreshed her.
“Better?” he asked.
“Oh yes,” she said after finishing every drop.
“Thanks, I guess I needed that.”
“Not used to drinking?”
“Who me? I’m a Sunday school teacher. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke?—”
“You don’t leave bars with strange men?” He grinned, liking the blush that crept across her cheeks.
He watched as her eyes regained focus. The fogginess in her head seemed to have retreated. At least, she no longer appeared drunk to him. He suspected he knew what happened.
“I feel strange. Like I was drunk a moment ago, and now, well, I feel better,” she stated, shaking her head, perhaps in disbelief.
He could only imagine how she felt. Getting used to supernatural metabolism must be difficult for one raised as only human. Concern rose inside of him once more, surprising him, but not really. His entire being seemed attuned to the lovely female.
“You feel like your entire system went into overdrive?”
“Yes!”
“I believe I can explain. You see, your Wolf side is trying to burn through the unfamiliar alcohol in your bloodstream.”
“My Wolf side? Oh, right, I told you about that,” she mumbled.
“You did. And it is nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“Are you sure about that? I mean, what happens when I get furry? Will I run around sniffing people's butts?”
“I suspect that is not accurate,” Ash replied with a grin. His heart squeezed inside his chest at her remarkable vulnerability.
Had a woman ever discussed butt sniffing with him before and managed to still look absolutely adorable?
Not to his immediate recollection.
“You know, I can’t tell if I am suddenly oversharing or if everyone here can read minds,” she replied with a self-deprecating laugh.
“I imagine it is overwhelming,” he said sympathetically. “Finding out you’re a Werewolf. Meeting a bunch of supernaturals in a bar in the Underworld.”
“Flying through the sky in the arms of some strange man?”
“Yeah, that too,” he murmured, noting her pale cheeks turning a pretty, dusky shade of pink.
