“Then you shouldn’t let that experience taint what you love.”
“How do you know I love dancing?”
“I have eyes, Eliana.” He smirked at me. “Eventually, I’ll get you out there.”
I almost smiled back at him but couldn’t quite manage it.
“About the woods.”
His hand covered mine and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“You overthink things, Eliana. If something upsets me, I promise I will use words to tell you. I understand you’re struggling, and the last thing I want you to believe is that I’m part of the problem. I’m not. I’m trying to help you find the solution. Always.”
I nodded and gave him a wan smile. He released my hand and left me to rejoin his pack. I felt lighter as I went back to my silent horror flick.
Hours later, I stood and stretched. Body to body dancers crowded the floor in front of the stage. They writhed in rhythm to the music. It would have looked fun hours ago. Now, I just wanted feeling to return to my backside so I could drive myself home and go to bed.
Picking up my jacket, I headed for the door.
Fenris blocked my path before I made it halfway there.
“Dance time?” he asked with an eyebrow wriggle.
“No, bedtime.”
“Yeah, I’m up for that too. Your place or mine?”
My vision sharpened, and I immediately ducked my head and looked at the floor.
“Not funny, Fenris.”
His arms wrapped around me.
“Sorry. No one saw. I promise.”
Instead of pulling away, I returned the hug and buried my head further.
“Want to go outside?” he asked.
After my nod, he lifted me just enough so my feet didn’t touch the floor and walked us out the doors. With relief, I breathed in the crisp winter air.
“Thank you.”
He lowered me to my feet and licked the tip of my nose as I backed away.
“Your forms of affection are weird. By the way, I warned Megan and Oanen you’re going to be hugging them. Good luck trying to get Oanen again.”
“Challenge accepted. He won’t see me coming.”
I laughed, unable to help myself. Months ago, I’d been witness to the spontaneous hug that Oanen had given Fenris. While it’d been done to throw off Aubrey—Fenris’s crazy, she-wolf stalker—from smelling Megan on Fenris, I could still remember Fenris’s shocked expression. Fenris might like hugging, but Oanen was far from a hugger.
“I bet you don’t even get close to him,” I said without thinking.
A gleam lit Fenris’s gaze.
“Two minutes of scratching if I win.”
“I don’t care what you want scratched; I’m not doing it.”
