Chapter 40
CHAPTER FORTY
Briar
Finally gathering my wits enough to stop standing there and gawking like an idiot, I pointed at the hooks near his head. “I put a towel next to the door for you.”
“Why are you still wearing those soaking wet, cold clothes?” he demanded instead of reaching for it.
“I have nothing else to wear.”
Knox scowled at me. “You have towels, and there’s a dresser, probably full of clothes, right there.” He pointed at the wooden dresser against the wall on the right side of the bed. A matching armoire was on the other side of the bed.
“I can’t wear someone else’s clothes,” I said. “It’s bad enough we’re invading their house.”
“So you’re willing to freeze to death?”
“I won’t freeze—”
“I can hear your teeth chattering from here. Get those fucking clothes off.”
“This guy’s a real peach,” Gizzi muttered into my head. “What did you ever see in him?”
“He wasn’t always like this,” I told him. “He used to be very different.”
“I should hope so, because he’s a real asshole now.”
I agreed with that, but he was an asshole who made my heart race and my palms sweaty.
“Are there any roses in here?” Knox asked.
“No.”
“Then we’re not invading their house. I’m sure, if we ever break the curse, they won’t mind that we took shelter here. Get undressed.”
His cock swung between his legs when he strode toward the fireplace. The urge to bite his taut ass hit me, and I had to look away as heat flared through my cheeks.
“I’m out of here,” Gizzi said. “I’m tired of seeing his naked ass.”
“I’m not.”
Those words resonated through my mind before I registered that I was going to respond to him. The burn in my cheeks increased until I was sure my face was on fire.
“Gross,” Gizzi griped as he dragged his towel toward the pantry. “Don’t forget I’m in here before you leave.”
“You don’t have to go.”
“If I keep seeing his swinging dick, I’ll bite it.”
I choked on the laughter that nearly erupted from me, but managed to stifle it as Gizzi released his towel, jumped onto the counter, and hopped over to the pantry door. Landing on the handle, he pushed down before falling to the floor.
The door creaked open as Gizzi reclaimed his towel and dragged it into the shadowed interior. “I can get it open from the inside too. Scream if you need me, and I’ll gladly help you.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured him.
I hope, but I didn’t add that last part to Gizzi. He wouldn’t leave if I did, and as much as I dreaded being alone with Knox, I also craved it.
Gizzi grunted as the door shut again with a click. Knox glanced toward it as he stacked logs in the fireplace.
“Did the rat just go in there?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Knox draped an arm over his bent knee as he frowned at the closed door before looking to me. Thankfully, some of the red from my face had faded by then. He didn’t say anything before placing another log in the fireplace.
Rising, he opened a box on the mantle and removed some matches. He shoved some kindling between the logs and lit it.
It took a bit before the logs started smoking and flames enveloped them. I was too far away to feel the heat yet, but Knox held his hands over the fire before turning to me.
“Get out of those clothes,” he said gruffly. “Or I’ll rip them off you.”
I clutched the towel against my chest as I looked toward the dresser. He would strip them from me. There was no way I could walk around naked with him; it would be the worst idea ever, and one that would surely have me on my back with my legs in the air in no time.
That sounds amazing.
No! That would be bad. VERY, VERY BAD!
The sane, logical part of me was right, but I ached to be touched and fucked and held by him again. Get it together, Briar, and MOVE.
I despised the idea of rummaging through someone else’s things, but it was either their clothes or no clothes. Dragging my feet across the floor, I trudged to the dresser and reluctantly opened the drawers.
“Do you know who lived here?” I asked as I pulled out a heavy yellow sweater and a pair of fluffy, gray wool pants.
“No.”
If it weren’t for the cemetery and the rain, the clothes would be much too warm for the spring, but the chill had seeped into my bones and wouldn’t let go. I found a pair of oversized wool socks and closed the drawers.
“Do you want me to find something for you to wear?” I asked.
“No.”
I almost asked him what he had against clothes, but bit my tongue. He was a shifter; even when they weren’t in animal form, they were still one at heart.
And his animal was the most twisted, wild one ever to exist.
Without another word, I slipped into the bathroom, turned on the faucets, and sighed as steam filled the air.