Chapter 35 #2
Or maybe on me since I’d be forced to deal with all the heavy testosterone.
I shifted in my seat just and opened the door, climbing out, yet sticking my head in so I could see his face. “Yes, he is. I just might be privy to the new roster that’s top secret.”
“What are you talking about? The draft? That’s tomorrow.”
“Well, as the team’s new fulltime public relations director, the owner and coaches thought it prudent I knew what next season would be like.”
He bumped his head when scrambling from the Charger. “You are shitting me.”
“Nope. Rocco is being traded.”
“Well, shit. That sucks.”
“You two can play nice together and be all furry in your off time. But not on the ice. I’ll put my foot down.” He was on me in a flash, lifting me in the air.
“Not going to happen. Two wolves on the same team might be interesting.” As he eased me down, he narrowed those gorgeous eyes of his.
Which always made me swoon.
“What if there are three furry beasts vying for top dog?”
“Three? I don’t know another player in the league who’s a wolf.”
I gave him a funny look until those eyes opened wide.
“Steven?”
“Shush. Don’t you dare spill the beans.”
“Woo-hoo!” He pumped his fist in the air.
“Like I said. Shush. By the way. Since we’re confessing our sins. What happened to Damien’s face?”
“What are you talking about?” He already looked sheepish.
In the three days since the spectacular Stanley Cup win on the ice, Damien had indeed been fired.
I’d just happened to be driving by his office when he was being escorted from the building by security.
“Let’s just say he appeared worked over by a big, bad, brutal savage.
That wouldn’t happen to be you. Would it? ”
He shrugged and the impish look told me all I needed to know. “I just had a formal discussion with him on the sins of fucking with my girl. I think he understood.”
“You are incorrigible.”
“So you keep telling me.”
“Why are we here?”
“Because I wanted to surprise you. Since we’re getting married, I thought you’d like to see every side of me. Just trust me.” As he wrapped his arm around me, walking us toward one of two buildings, I studied his profile. He was up to something.
The man was whistling and he never whistled a tune.
From what I could tell, the facility also included running trails. There were signs directing members to areas like Rabbit Hill and Foxhole Run. Catchy, but it did put a hitch in my mind.
What was the bad boy doing?
When we reached the building, he pointed to one of the benches. “Just wait right here. I’ll be right back. Promise.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”
He spoke with a couple of guys as they were leaving, both dressed in Armani suits. I watched as one headed for a Mercedes Coup, the other for a Ferrari. This must be an upscale club. Hmmm…
My hackles were increasing as seconds ticked. However, the good news of the day was that I no longer had hives. That’s what mating did for you.
And the man, correction, the wolfman had done so with bells on, filling me in way I’d never thought possible. I’d be sore for a week, but that didn’t bother me in the least.
Maybe my she-wolf was eager to come out and play.
Maybe four minutes later Saint returned.
Completely naked.
I had no idea what to say, but I knew my mouth was hanging wide open. “What are you doing? The last time I checked, it wasn’t polite to walk around naked in a public park.”
“Walk with me. Don’t worry. I won’t get arrested. This just happens to be a special facility.”
“Nothing about you surprises me any longer.”
“I guess we’ll see about that.” We walked into the woods, still on the path. When he stopped and turned, my instinct told me exactly what to expect. “You’re going to shift for me. Aren’t you?”
“Are you sure you want to see the dark side of me?”
I clapped, letting off a little squeal. Boy, oh, boy, how things had changed between us. Drastically. But I did ask myself whether or not I wanted to see what I’d already witnessed in the video. I could pretend he was a man and nothing else, squelching rumors as part of my job forever if necessary.
However, was that any way to start off a marriage? As I twisted the beautiful engagement ring, I nodded. “I’m positive.”
“Might be gory. Fur will fly.”
“Gory I can handle. I’m a big girl.”
Every time he grinned, his dimples were exposed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I saluted. “Duly noted.”
He took a deep breath before walking away. As he crouched down, I was more than curious. I was eager to see how this all worked.
Just in case I’d need to explain the process to our children.
Correction. Our pups.
The thought kept me smiling even as the ground beneath my feet began to vibrate.
I’d witnessed everything from horrific car wrecks to dead deer on the side of the road. I’d watched horror flicks, although they weren’t my favorites, but seeing him shift into his primal form was…
Beautiful.
Most girls wouldn’t think that way when their man suddenly turned into a possible vicious killer, but I was obviously not a typical girl to say the least.
Was that because I was part wolf or because I adored a man I’d once been determined to hate?
All in a day’s work.
Or all was fair in love and war.
Whatever the right words, after he’d finished shifting, all I wanted to do was to drop down and cuddle with him. What did that say about a quiet librarian with a penchant for romance novels and big, bad alpha men?
“Not too bad for a rookie,” I told the beast as I approached. “However, you should work on your form. I can help you clean up your image.”
He tipped his head back and howled.
As one of my favorite actors, Johnny Depp, once said, “Love is not blind; it simply enables one to see what others fail to see.”
What was I seeing? The perfect savage.
The savage iceman.
The End