Chapter 37
JULIET
When I come down my front steps, I walk carefully so as not to trip in my heels on the uneven sidewalk.
Sure, at a Jameson gathering, I’m betting I could’ve gotten away with sneakers and jeans.
But with Hester coming, I know at least one person is going to be dressed to kill.
Besides, I enjoy the way Roderick stares at my legs.
And with this sweater dress only coming halfway down my thighs, he has plenty to gaze at.
He watches me approach, and I watch him watching me as I exaggerate the sway of my hips slightly.
It’s been a while since I’ve given myself permission to feel sexy.
To not want to cover myself up when a man’s eyes touch me.
When I come to a stop in front of where he leans against his truck, Roderick is still staring.
“Something the matter?” I ask with feigned innocence.
“Not fair,” he mutters, hand scraping over his shaved head.
“What’s not?”
“You looking so beautiful.” His eyes blaze when he meets mine. “I’m supposed to talk to people tonight. How’s that gonna work?”
I shrug, stepping in close and pressing my body against his. “That sounds like a you problem.”
The chuckle rumbles in his chest, vibrating through me as his arms crush me to him. The sensation of his humor and the smell of his slightly spicy soap have me turning liquid.
“Let’s get you fed.” He kisses me, then escorts me to my seat.
When he reaches for my seat belt, I let him, enjoying the way his hands brush against my chest.
“In case you weren’t sure, I do know how to use a seat belt,” I whisper, as if sharing a secret, fighting off a smile.
Roderick tugs on the belt, testing its integrity, and grunts like the guttural noise is a valid response.
Overprotective werewolf. The thought brings a warm happiness rather than a stifling heat of fear.
Roderick slips behind the wheel, and I notice a stack of boxes in the back seat.
“What’s all that?” I point behind me at the mystery cargo.
“Pies.” He starts the ignition and pulls a U-turn on my dead-end street.
“All of them? Those are all pies?”
He nods. “There should be ten.”
“And you made them? Yourself?”
“Yeah.” The wolf glances at me out the side of his eye.
“Are you a pie master? Did I give a half-assed lemon cream pie to a fucking pie wizard?”
“It wasn’t half-assed. I liked it.”
“Even with the soggy crust?”
His lips twitch. “I never said it was soggy. Only that I was checking.”
“Fine. But I’m never making you a pie again.”
“What? Why?” His smile disappears.
“Because you’ve clearly mastered the art!”
“So?”
“So, I don’t want to bother with your high standards. When it comes to baking, I need a bar set relatively low. Is there a dessert you’re bad at making?”
His mouth twists, and I grab his thigh in delight.
“Tell me! I’ll train day and night until I make the best.”
We come to a stoplight, and Roderick takes his right hand off the wheel to lay it on top of mine. He doesn’t try to move my grip away. Instead, he rubs the back of my hand, applying slight pressure. Like he wants to press my touch harder into him.
I’ve noticed him doing this at times. Guiding me to hold him tighter. To press more parts of my body into his. Like he’s always looking for a way to draw me closer.
Have to admit, I kinda love it.
Especially because he never even comes close to the point of pain.
One more difference between him and my ex. Cory grabbed hold of me so hard because he wanted to leave marks of ownership on my skin.
Roderick is almost silently begging for me to mark him.
Leaning across the console, I give his shoulder a playful bite. “Tell me your secret dessert desires.”
His lids snap shut as his head falls back against the seat. Reaching down with his other hand, Roderick adjusts his pants, and I realize he’s getting hard.
“éclairs,” he murmurs, eyes still closed.
Then a horn honks behind us, and we both jerk at the sound. I settle back in my seat, and Roderick accelerates through the green light.
I don’t mind the interruption too much.
Now that I have the information I need to tempt my man to his knees.