Chapter 10 #2
“Nope. As I said already, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Aside from my curiosity, I like your company, Rudy.
I don’t like being around a lot of people, but you’re different…
in a good way. Listen, I don’t want you to feel like you have to censor yourself or apologize for speaking what you feel.
I may not know what it’s like to have two sides of yourself that are fighting against each other, but I understand the directness of your wolf.
It’s something I find comforting when I’m in the company of animals.
In fact, I prefer it to the social expectations in society where people don’t say what they think. ”
Rudy stared at me with his mouth open as if he wanted to say something, but instead, he closed his mouth and let out a soft sigh, leaning more into my hand.
My fingers trailed up to his hair, circling around his ear, and he hummed softly.
There was something really powerful about making such a large man, and a werewolf at that, melt under my touch.
Pushing up on my knees to get closer to him, I lowered my voice and said, “Don’t worry about being too intense; I can handle it.”
His eyes were still closed, but his nostrils flared as he breathed in, breathing my scent in.
My gaze lowered to his mouth. His lips were a dark pink that looked so inviting; I wanted to taste them.
I wanted to close the distance between us and press my mouth to his.
Would his fangs come out if I did? Did I want them to?
The thought made my blood heat beneath my skin, and an ache built low and deep within me.
“Fuuuck! You smell so fucking delicious.” It came out in a snarl more than in words, but it only added to the desire I already felt. Was he smelling my interest, or was it just my natural scent that he was reacting to? Either way, it made me feel incredibly sexy.
The hand that was in his hair slid down to his cheek, and my thumb brushed against the corner of his mouth, making him inhale sharply. “I’m going to borrow some of your directness and tell you that I really want to kiss you.”
I’d barely gotten the words out when he lunged at me.
In a fraction of a second, I was on my back on the floor with Rudy between my legs, hovering over me.
His eyes glowed pink, and his breath huffed hot against my cheek.
His human features were enhanced by the glimpse of his wolf peeking through.
My heart rate kicked up with the thrill of the wickedly hot being holding himself over me.
I was pinned down, unable to move, feeling like a meal.
Damn, if that didn’t make me hard as a rock.
Rudy leaned down and pressed his nose to my neck, drawing in a deep breath, making me wish he would lick me, kiss me, bite me—anything. I didn’t know. I was feeling as out of control as I could sense Rudy was, and I couldn’t find a reason to care.
“Nooo!” He was the one that stopped, pushing himself off me so hard he hit the wall behind him with a thud. He covered his face with his hands and shook his head. I stayed on the ground, staring up at the ceiling, as my heart rate settled back down after such an intense moment.
When I finally got my wits about me, I sat up and met his gaze with a half-smile. “Sorry.”
Rudy’s eyes returned to their normal hue. “No. I’m sorry. I want to… but I don’t trust myself.”
“It’s okay. We’re okay. You should know, though, what I want is no less true now, but it can wait.
” I didn’t want him to think that I saw him any differently.
Hell, he had to have felt my reaction to him.
My eyes lowered to the inseam of his jeans.
Though they were baggy, there appeared to be a bulge beneath them, too.
Shit, that wasn’t going to help, not with him fighting so hard to keep control.
I flicked my gaze back up to meet his. “You mentioned lunch? That might not be a bad idea.”
Rudy huffed out a laugh, and he sank down on the floor again, the tightness in his face falling away. “Yeah, agreed. I’ll order some food to be sent down. What do you like?”
“Anything vegetarian would be fine.”
His eyes widened, and his brows arched. “You’re a… vegetarian?”
I settled back onto the couch and snickered at the look of disgust on his face.
“Yeah. When you can communicate with and learn the names of the animals that end up on the plate, it’s harder to look at it the same way.
But don’t worry, I’m not going to hold anyone else to my preferences.
I know you’re a big, bad predator, Rudy.
I understand the food web. Carnivores gotta carni. Eat whatever you normally would, okay?”
A smile stretched his lips, and he gave a nod. “Okay.”
After typing on his phone, he carefully approached the couch.
I gave a nod toward the cushion beside me in invitation.
Rudy sat as far against the side as possible, trying not to touch me.
It was an improvement, though. Better than sitting across the room and not as intense as having him on top of me.
A happy medium, I supposed. Though I wouldn’t mind having him over me again.
Nonetheless, I was glad to see him feeling more at ease.