Page 47 of Ice Wolf
“I can’t forget the first time I saw one as a kid. I thought they were so cool, but as with idiot little boys, I’d wanted to pluck the wings off the little creature. My mother had to stop me. Let me tell you, her punishments were harsher than my dad’s.” At least I could laugh easily around her. In truth, being around her under any circumstances was easy.
Even if she could drive a man to drinking.
“I think I’d like your parents.”
“I’m sure you’ll get to meet them. I have a feeling they’ll like you too.” I’d never felt awkward around a woman before.
Huffing, her shoulders slumped. “Anyway, if you don’t want me as your fake… whatever then just let your coach know and I’m certain my dad can find some more suitable girl to pretend to care about you while you do exactly what you want and ruin your career at the same time.”
The hurt in her voice had only some to do with me. Maybe more than some, but this was about her deadbeat boyfriend, someone I’d like to crush between my fingers.
And I could do it too.
Another feeling of possessiveness kicked in and I dared take a step closer. Who knew. She might grab one of the long-handled knives in the butcher block and toss it at me. I wouldn’t put anything past her. “He was a moron.”
“My father?” Her armor remained tightly in position.
“The asshole who cheated on you. He didn’t deserve you. Not a breath of air you take or the way you light up an entire room when you walk in. He was obviously clueless that you have the greatest laugh in the world and when you look at a man with unbridled passion in your eyes, there is nothing that man wants more than to take you in his arms and fulfill every fantasy. And there isn’t any man on this earth who wouldn’t love to have you on his arm as his wife. That bastard was just a complete moron.”
The words flowed.
Her doubts continued.
My cravings were off the chart.
Now I was the one sweating.
Yet her features softened and for the first time since I’d walked into the kitchen, she looked me directly in the eyes. It was brief, maybe three seconds, but enough that my wolf was hungrier than he’d ever been. My skin prickled with such an intense need I feared I’d lose control.
“Thank you for that. We just weren’t compatible. I need to put the rest of the pizza away.”
“I don’t want anyone else, Lily. You’re perfect in every way.” I noticed the scratches on her arm a second time and my breath hitched.
A clear sign of a shifter in heat. I’d seen it before when a good friend had found his mate inside a dive bar. She’d been playing pool. They’d thrown darts while tossing back shots of mescal. An hour in, her arms had the appearance of wrestling with a tiger while he’d been panting like a wild dog.
I’d done best friend duties by blocking off the bathroom as he’d knotted right there.
My pulse raced from the thought. Knotting her was out of the goddamn question. I refused to be convinced she was the one.
But fucking her was something else.
A need that refused to be denied.
She nodded and sidestepped me, heading for the pizza. She even turned around so she wasn’t forced to face me any longer. Suddenly, the sound of both phones ringing brought a growl to my lips.
“Why the fuck can’t we just be left alone for one night? One night? I would love more than anything to just let go and pretend. You know? Like we’re really on a date and having a fabulous time. I’d like to feel something again other than sadness and anxiety about who I am and what I’m doing. I’d like to feel passion. Why am I not allowed to feel that crazy sense of need that grabs you by the throat and won’t let you go? Why can’t I just be swept off my feet if only for a single night?” Her words were spouted out of exasperation.
She had no idea what she’d just done to me or how much I craved her. The ache was real, the need all encompassing.
And I was at the point of losing my goddamn mind.
“Lily,” I growled.
“Saint,” she stated.
At the same time as she jerked the box off the table and spun around, and we crashed into each other.
Yes, the pizza was saucy as she’d called it.
