Page 28 of Wishing for a Werewolf
“I will,” he rumbles, quiet amusement lacing his deep voice.
As soon as Babybelle hears it, she knows she’s out of trouble. Her ears lift, and she baas her goat laugh and squirms from his grip. After clambering onto his shoulder, she leaps to the island top and caroms off it to dive into the hallway, her hooves clacking against the hardwood floor.
The little clicking noises fade as she trots into the living room, and I yell after her, “No chewing or no cookies!”
“Does that work? If so, I might need to figure out what these cookies are before my niece and nephew get here.”
I gasp. “They’ve never had cookies?”
“They’ve spent their entire lives as wolf pups. That’s why it’s so important that I do a good job teaching them how to live in this form.” He stares at his hands.
I reach over and run a finger over his palm, and his breath catches. Tension tightens the air between us, but I don’t pull away. “You’re not used to having hands,” I whisper.
“Or bare skin.” His voice comes out husky. “It’s so… sensitive.”
Oh, god. I can’t help it. My thoughts race. All I canimagine is being the first to touch him like this, my hands all over his body, making him shiver and moan…
I’m not even sure this is horny Autumn anymore—all of me wants this.
Swallowing hard, I spin back toward the stove and use the excuse of loading everything onto two serving trays to take a couple of moments to regain my composure. Then I lead us into the living room, where Babybelle looks up from chewing on one of my slippers.
“Babybelle! Our agreement!”
“It was just a little nibble.” She races up to me and butts her head softly against my shin. “I got bored.”
A huff of laughter escapes me, half amusement, half disbelief. “It was less than five minutes.”
“Maybe it would help if she has something she’s allowed to chew.” Rune stares at her thoughtfully. “That works with pups when they’re teething. We give them bones or sticks to gnaw.”
“Yes!” Babybelle puts her front hooves on my knee. “I could be good if I had something like that.”
“Okay. I’ll order you something. For now…” I eye the mangled house shoe. I was going to get a new pair this winter, anyway. “You can chew on this pair of shoes if you need to, but only this pair.”
“I promise.”
“That’s what you said last time.” I settle onto my overstuffed burnt-orange sofa.
Babybelle bounds up and snuggles down between me and the armrest, making a goat loaf with all four legs tucked under her. She looks up at me, her amber eyes full of love,and I immediately forgive her, rubbing a hand over her soft forehead.
Rune sits beside me, making the cushion dip. I left plenty of room on the couch for him, but he’s just so big that I’m keenly aware of him like a pressure all down my side.
I spoon up some soup, the blend of butternut and nutmeg and garlic softened by cream and blended into a smooth puree of cozy goodness that tastes like fall in a bowl.
Rune takes his first bite, then turns to me with surprised eyes. “This is good!”
“Don’t look so shocked!” I laugh. “Like you were expecting it to be bad.”
“It’s not that.” He gives a self-conscious little grimace. “I’m not used to eating vegetables, so it’s always surprising when I like them.” He takes another enthusiastic bite.
Before I can stop myself, I lean over and pick up his cheesy bread, the bubbling sharp cheddar cooled enough to eat, though the bread is still nice and toasty. I bring it to his lips. “You need to try this.”
He takes a big bite, his fangs sinking into the bread in a way that makes my heart skip with the reminder that Rune’s no ordinary man—he’s fae and a werewolf and far,farstronger than me.
Rune groans, deep and rumbling and full of need.
Oh, boy. That groan does things to me. My pulse speeds, sending blood racing south, and horny Autumn starts to hum with delight.
“What is this?” He pulls a stretchy piece of cheese off the top of the bread and stares at it with all the fascination of an explorer who just found gold.
