Chapter 19 #4
“Yes. The bond is spiritual. But as you can attest, the physical allure of a mate is equally enticing.” His irises darkened, and she had to cross her legs to assuage the sudden ache between them. It certainly felt like his body called to hers. With every breath.
“I don’t know how to accept what you’re saying.” Her voice quaked, mirroring the tumble of desire inside her.
“But you feel it.”
“Yes.”
“Then trust your instincts.”
His eyes held hers, and she worried she wouldn’t be able to rein in her desire to lean across the table so he’d kiss her. PDA was not her thing. Except during pagan rites, apparently.
A plate clattered on the table in front of her and shocked her back to her senses.
“Steak and eggs with bacon,” Tom announced.
She took a moment to look closely at their server. “Have we met before? I swear you look so familiar.”
Tom ducked his head, shooting a cautious glance at Fenris before answering. “You uh . . . I also work at the gas station where you had the accident—”
“Oh my god.” Selene knew who he was now. The pale face, the smashed glass and spilled coffee. The way he’d licked her blood from his hand. A vampire. Now it all made sense. She’d witnessed the real Avondale before she could grasp what she was seeing.
Fen had gone eerily still. “What accident? Explain, Tom. Now.”
Tom shrank back, and Selene rushed to his rescue. “The night I arrived in Avondale, I stopped at the gas station. I dropped a bottle of iced coffee, and it shattered all over the floor. Tom cleaned it all up, and he didn’t even charge me for the coffee.”
She reached out to clasp Tom’s hand, and, wow, his skin was cold. “Thank you again, Tom. You didn’t have to do that.”
“It was nothing. Really,” Tom sputtered, his frightened gaze locked on Fenris.
When Selene looked at Fen, his eyes were focused on the way her hand was linked to Tom’s, and she quickly pulled away, but not before she flashed Tom a smile she hoped was reassuring.
“He was very kind, Fen,” Selene told the glowering werewolf. “I made so much extra work for him when I dropped that bottle.”
Fen leaned back, nodding at Tom. “Generosity of spirit is admirable, Tom. I’m glad you represented Avondale in such a manner to our newest resident.”
Tom nodded fervently. “Of course, Fenris.”
Fen gestured to the empty space in front of him, and Tom quickly set the second plate there but frowned as if the action was troubling. “Side of bacon and side of sausage.”
“Thank you,” Fen said.
“You’re welcome. Enjoy your meal.” Tom visibly relaxed, though his expression remained confused as he scurried away.
The scent of the food wafted around her, and Selene’s stomach roared to life again.
Her hunger was so fierce, she almost forgot to pick up her fork and knife before she tore into the large slab of meat.
She’d finished half the steak that, even dripping red liquid, still seemed overdone, when she remembered Fen was sitting across from her.
She reluctantly set down her fork. “I’m sorry . . .”
He shook his head. “You’re hungry. Eat.” His eyes were alight with mischief.
After offering him a grateful smile, she started in on the bacon, which wasn’t as good as the steak. It tasted burned, but it didn’t look charred. In fact, it was some of the floppiest bacon she’d ever seen.
When Tom came back to refill their coffee, she’d finished the steak and her own bacon. She’d taken a couple bites of her eggs but found them unappetizing.
Fen pushed the second plate of bacon and sausages in front of her, and she eagerly began cutting into the meat.
“Bring another order, Tom,” Fen said and grinned as Selene chomped on a piece of sausage.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” she asked before she took another bite. “It’s really delicious.”
“I’m fine.” Fen began to laugh.
“What?”
He looked at the empty plates lined up in front of her.
“Oh my god.” With a sense of mourning, she set down her fork.
“That was rude of me,” he said but kept smiling. “Please don’t stop eating.”
“But this is impossible.” She stared at the plates. Only her eggs and toast remained.
“You were hungry.” He shrugged.
“But I never eat this much,” she argued. “And all that meat. I should be sick to my stomach. But I feel like I could eat even more. I’m still hungry.”
“That’s why I ordered more,” he said.
A cold prickling moved over her neck.
“Oh god,” she murmured.
“What’s wrong?”
“All the meat.” She gripped the edge of the table. “I only want to eat meat. And it all tastes overcooked.”
He looked unfazed as she stared at him and felt blood drain from her face.
“What did you do to me?”
“Nothing,” he said, still calm.
“Then why am I eating like . . .” She had to pause when her stomach turned over. “Like I’m a wolf.”
He chuckled. “Trust me, you’re not eating like a wolf. Not quite.”
“Then what is this?” She didn’t take her eyes off his face. “Last night when we . . . Did you turn me?”
“No. Of course not.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I didn’t bite you.”
One corner of his mouth twitched up. “Even though you asked me to.”
“I didn’t know what I was saying.” She blushed at the rising memory. Because amid the haze of the previous night, she did remember asking him to. More like begging him to.
“I know that,” he replied. “Which is why I didn’t do it.”
The defensive cast of his gaze softened. “You’re just feeling the aftereffects of the union. You’ve taken part of my essence into you. It’s influencing your body right now, but it will fade. You aren’t a wolf. You’re human.”
Selene nodded slowly, and her heartbeat grew less frantic. “Is it affecting you?”
“It is. I could eat your eggs and toast without a problem,” he offered. “But like I said, I’m not hungry.”
Chagrined, Selene eased back into her seat. “I’m sorry I panicked. I didn’t mean to imply—”
“I would never treat you with anything but care,” he interjected. “And I would not force you into anything.”
She pulled in a long breath and then slowly exhaled.
“I believe that,” she said. “And I do trust you, Fenris.”
“To become immortal, a wolf like I am, should only happen as a choice,” he said. “I would never turn you without your permission.”
“I know.”
He paused, the sudden sharpness of his gray eyes seeming to pierce her soul. “But I would like your permission.”