Page 7 of Until Forever Comes
“Crawled? Do you mean when you walked over in your wolf form?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I heard you and I tried to shift but I couldn’t, so I crawled and the ground was sharp and hard and it hurt when it cut into me, and I started bleeding, but then I was able to call my wolf and that’s when I saw you and it didn’t hurt no more.”
Miguel furrowed his brow, looking like he was perplexed by what I’d said. Then he flicked his gaze all about and wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close. “Come on, wolf. Ted will be back any minute to get the other humans, and he might not be alone. You said you started out in your human form, right? That means you have clothes. Where are they?”
I opened my mouth to protest any plan that would ultimately lead to being forced away from him, but he narrowed his eyes, and something told me if I didn’t answer his question, he’d get right ornery lickety-split. I much preferred a happy expression on Miguel’s face, so I slumped my shoulders in defeat and cocked my chin toward the alley where I’d left my clothes.
“They’re right over yonder,” I answered.
He walked us over without another word, but he kept his arm around me, holding me close. I liked it.
When we got to my clothes, he fetched them and handed me my shirt. “Get dressed,” he ordered.
I reached for my shirt and pulled it on. My socks came next. I hopped on each leg in turn to tug them on, feeling my pecker flopping from side to side, and heard a new sound—Miguel laughing.
“What?” I asked him.
He leaned down and kissed me. “You are by far the most charming creature I have ever had the good fortune of encountering.”
“Charming?”
A hot, dark gaze scanned my body yet again, from face to feet and back up again. I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and socks. Nothing else.
“Yeah,” he said, his voice husky. “I’m feeling prettycharmedfrom watching you jump around with your stuff hanging out there.” He cupped my package with his large hand and gave me a light squeeze. “And it isreallynice-looking stuff. Almost a shame to cover up a dick this pretty.”
“Then don’t,” I said.
“We can’t walk you through town like this.” Miguel chuckled. “Humans might be oblivious to some things, but a man without pants isn’t one of them.”
“Then we won’t go through town,” I suggested, realizing my voice sounded somewhat desperate. “You live here, right? Can’t we go to your den?”
“Myden?” Miguel repeated my question.
I nodded.
He looked at me suspiciously. “Why?” he asked.
Thinking he was worried I’d harm him if he let me into his private domain, I tried to relieve his fears. “I won’t hurt you,” I promised. “Or do anything to your den.”
The no-longer-foreign laugh rolled out of him again. He shook out my drawers and held them out in front of me. “Get dressed, killer,” he said.
I put one foot and then the other through the underwear. “Are you making fun of me?” I asked with a frown.
He pulled them up until they rested at my waist. “No, never,” he responded sarcastically.
“Yes, you are.” I adjusted my genitals. “You’re laughing at me,” I said with my hand still in my drawers. “What’s so funny?”
His smile took over his face and transformed it from frightening to adoring.
“Look, don’t get all ruffled again.” He held my cut-off jean shorts up. I pulled my hand away from my groin and put it over his so I could keep steady as I stepped into them. “But I found it just a tad amusing to hear you reassure me about my safety in your presence.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Are you saying I’m weak?” I demanded. He pulled my cut-offs up and then zipped and buttoned them.
“No. I’m saying….” He hesitated, seeming to choose his words carefully as he crouched down on the ground and slipped each of my shoes on. “You’re an innocent. I can see that. It isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s a great thing. But we need to get you back where you belong so you can stay that way.”
“I am right where I belong, and I’m fixin’ to stay here.”
Miguel stood up and glanced around. “You belong in an alley in the middle of town with some injured humans down the way and an irritated vampire heading back any minute to get rid of them?” He shook his head. “I don’t think so, wolf.”
