I think I hear him groan, but I don’t wait to check, setting off at a fast jog.
Will he turn back to his wolf so he can catch me?
There’s the sound of crashing branches and crunching brush behind me.
Does he even need to change to run as fast as I do?
“Blossom! Get your ass back here!”
I almost pause. Almost. More because of his tone than his words.
He sounds pissed.
The last time I remember Manny getting truly angry was when Alvin Carter spray-painted a gay slur on my sister’s locker. The guy was lucky he was a merman. A human wouldn’t have healed from two broken legs so quickly.
Maybe I shouldn’t have cannonballed off a cliff without warning Manny first. I guess that could scare a guy if he wasn’t properly prepared.
Oh well. It’s done now.
I pick up the pace, heading toward a familiar group of trees that isn’t too far off. They call to me like old friends.
Two steps into the orchard, I’m lifted off my feet.
“Hey!” I yelp, my fingers scrabbling against the strong set of arms wrapped around my waist.
Next I know, my back is on the ground, and there’s a glaring werewolf on top of me, pinning my body in place.
And the answer is, yes, Manny was running through the woods naked in his human form.
“What the hell were you thinking?” he growls.
“That you’re heavier than a boulder.” I jab a finger into his bare side, but he doesn’t flinch.
Truthfully, the man isn’t crushing me. But he’s also an immovable force.
“I’m talking about that stunt you just pulled. You could’ve died.”
I roll my eyes. “I knew the trees would catch me.”
“Ididn’t know,” he snarls.
And instead of my anger rising in response to his, I spy the fear in Manny’s eyes, and the sight allows me to soften. Reaching up, I push the wild strands of his hair off his sweaty forehead.
“Poor little wolf. Did I scare you?” I tease gently, waiting for him to respond in kind. To bring us back to what we’ve always been. Two enemies who’ve established a fragile truce because we love the same people.
Instead, Manny’s big body sinks closer to mine, his shoulders curving, as if to shield me. “I was fucking terrified.” His face presses against my neck, lips on my skin as he speaks. “I think I could live with you leaving me. But I wouldn’t survivelosingyou, Blossom Fernmore.”
Once again, I’m left shocked by his words, blurting out the only question I can manage. “What does that mean?”
Manny presses a hot, open-mouthed kiss to my racing pulse before answering in a calm voice, “I want you.”
This makes no sense. None at all. He’s talking complete nonsense. Maybe he dived off that cliff after me and whacked his head on the landing.
Whatever the cause, I’m not about to put up with his teasing.
Or these neck kisses that threaten to unravel me.
“Manuel Ramirez.” I’m proud of the stern tone I manage despite how breathless I suddenly am.
