I considered him for a second.
“Is there anything I could offer for the truth?”
He side-eyed me again.
“Give me until we get to where we’re going to come up with something.”
Frustrated, I sat back and let the cold wind beat my face. We left town and headed toward pack territory. His lust didn’t fade like I’d thought it would as the miles passed.
“Can you tone it down?” I asked. “I’ve lost feeling in my nose.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled, opening his window and turning up the heat.
Both helped.
“So, petting really is a thing for your kind?”
His lips twitched.
“I guess it is for me. I haven’t really asked anyone else. It’d give the girls the wrong idea.”
“I bet. Jenna mentioned she liked playing hide-and-seek with you. I don’t think she understands that you’re hiding so you won’t be found.”
He made a face.
“I really do feel bad for the girls. I’ve never meant to lead them on.”
“I know.”
A few turns later, and I figured out where we were headed.
“The caves?”
“You said you wanted to go.”
“I do.”
I grinned at the thought of spending a whole day doing nothing but lounging in the hot springs. That grin faded as I realized I hadn’t packed very smart.
He parked in the same clearing and turned off the car but didn’t immediately get out. Rather, he stared straight ahead at the snow-swept trees.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Not really.” He turned to face me. “I want to tell you everything, Eliana. It’s killing me that I haven’t. But you’re the closest friend I’ve had in a long time, and I’m not prepared to lose that. I can’t.”
His words tugged at my heart. He was struggling with so much in his life that I didn’t want to add to that burden. And, I knew exactly how he felt. His unwillingness to lose a friend was the same reason I kept rejecting his offers to feed me.
The tormented look remained in his eyes as I got out of the car and went to his side to open the door. It started to fade the moment I spread my arms wide and wiggled my fingers.
“I think it’s time for a hug,” I said. “This one’s on the house.”
He startled another squeak from me when he lunged out the door and hugged me so hard and fast that he lifted me off my feet. I laughed and held him close. He settled his head against my shoulder and breathed in deeply. I didn’t scold him or tell him to stop even though it stoked my hunger. Instead, I let him have his moment. He needed it.
Eventually, he released me and grabbed the two bags.
“Do you have a coat?”
I wrinkled my nose.
