As soon as we’ve secured our rooms, Raquel disappears into her’s, waving at me over her shoulder and telling me not to do anything she wouldn’t do.
And then Blake and I are truly alone for the first time since… well, pretty much ever.
It’s a lot more awkward than I expected.
We might have spent the last few nights wrapped in each other’s arms, but we still don’t trulyknoweach other. Now there’s that heavy weight of not knowing what the hell to say combined with the kind of dance you have to do around someone you don’t know that well. Both aspects of this situation are made even more awkward by my wolf urging me to get naked, climb into Blake’s lap, and ride him.
Bad wolf.
What’s worse is with Blake’s rather stoic demeanor, it’s really hard to tell what he’s thinking or feeling, which makes things—you guessed it—even more awkward.
He’s polite, friendly, and even sweet sometimes, but he’s not the most talkative person. He’s spent most of the time in the truck watching the world passing outside the windows, only joining theconversation occasionally, mostly with one- or two-word responses. Whether that’s because of the whole stuck as a wolf for years thing or because that’s just the kind of person he always was, I have no idea.
But I guess it’s time I found out.
Twenty-One
Neil
Afteraquickshower,I plop down on the single queen bed in only my boxers and rest my forehead in my hands. Whether it’s the quiet—Raquel can fill a silence like no one else—or the idea that Blake and I are finally alone, appeasing the bond enough for it to shut up, everything that’s happened over the past few days is finally catching up to me.
In less than a week, my life has gone from boring and mostly routine to whatever the hell this mess is. I’ve been thrust back into the shifter world, basically forced out of the only city I’ve ever known, nearly died I’m not sure how many times, and met my fated mate, who may or may not be a little more feral than is safe.
That’s… a lot.
And I still haven’t had the time to process most of it and my mind is spinning.
I drag a hand over my face and blow out a breath.This is fine. I can—
“Are you okay?” asks Blake in a soft, careful voice.
I look up from my hands, offering up a strained smile to the large man standing a couple feet away. “Yeah. I’m just…” I flap my arms a little. “I don’t know. Exhausted? Overwhelmed? About to vibrate out of my skin? Take your pick.”
“In desperate need of a break? Or maybe… a release?”
“Huh?”
“That’s what I’m picking,” he explains, the corners of his mouth curling upward as he edges closer to the bed.
I blink at him in confusion, lack of sleep and stress shorting my brain out. “But those things weren’t on the list?”
He lets out a low laugh that sends a shiver of awareness through me, the sound vibrating down my spine, tingling with a pleasant heat. “May I join you?”
“Join me?”
“On the bed, Neil,” he says, voice laced with amusement.
My eyes widen as his meaning finally clicks.
“Oh. Yes. Of course.” I nod eagerly, scooting up until my back rests against the headboard, and watch Blake as he prowls closer,heated gaze intent on my face. He pauses with one knee on the comforter as if checking in to be sure I’m still on board with what’s happening.
I amsoon board.
He continues forward, drawing up his other leg and crawling toward me. He positions himself so he’s hovering over me, then leans down to rub his nose against mine.
“Hi,” I say a little breathlessly.
“Hi,” he repeats. He closes his eyes and runs his nose up the side of my neck. “You smell amazing.”
